Bhubaneswar: At least five people were killed and 10 others injured in separate lightning strike incidents reported from different parts of Odisha as thunderstorms swept across the state on Monday.
Two deaths were reported from Kendujhar district, where one person was killed in Ghatagaon block and another in Hatadihi block. In Ghatagaon, Kamsala Sethi of Arjunbila village under Gadadharpur panchayat was struck by lightning while working in a field. Two others, Sunaphula Sethi and Rashmita Sethi, sustained serious injuries and were admitted to Ghatagaon Hospital.
In another incident under Nandipada police station limits in Hatadihi block, Mithun Raul of Dimiria village died after lightning struck while he was riding a tractor.
In Mayurbhanj district, two farmers lost their lives in separate incidents. The deceased were identified as Jaba Baske (62) of Gholmuha village under Morada police station and Rabindra Behera alias Bapun (36) of Pariakuli village. Both were reportedly working in agricultural fields when they were struck by lightning.
Another fatality was reported from Nuagaon village under Debabhui panchayat in Cuttack district’s Narasinghpur block, where Debarshan Sahu (55) died after being struck by lightning while grazing goats near the village.
Meanwhile, in Baleswar district’s Nilagiri area, lightning struck a house during the night, leaving eight members of a family seriously injured. All the injured have been admitted to hospital for treatment. Three goats also died in the incident.
Authorities said the casualties occurred amid widespread thunderstorm activity that affected several parts of the state.
