Bhubaneswar: In a tragic incident, two persons lost their lives after being struck by lightning while bathing in a pond at Malpara village under Khaprakhol police limits in Balangir district on Monday evening.
The deceased have been identified as Tikedhar Majhi, a resident of Malpara village, and Dilip Majhi of Sahajpani village.
According to reports, the duo had gone to the Malpara village pond for a bath when a sudden thunderstorm hit the area. As lightning intensified, they reportedly attempted to take shelter under a nearby tree. However, a bolt of lightning struck them, leading to their deaths on the spot.
Villagers who later arrived at the pond discovered the two men lying unconscious. Upon closer examination, they noticed burn injuries on the bodies and immediately rushed them to a nearby hospital. However, doctors declared both men brought dead.