Koraput: At least 21 cattle and three goats were killed and four people were injured when lightning struck them in Ranginiguda village of Ampabali Panchayat under Pattangi block of Odisha’s Koraput district on Sunday evening.
According to reports, an old woman named Khara Simadri of Ranginiguda village was taking the cattle and goats of eight families for grazing in a nearby forest at around 3.30 pm on Sunday when there was a thunderstorm and it started raining. Samadri Khara, Pandana Hantal, Majaya Khara, and Patana Hantal, who were grazing the cattle, took shelter under a tree as there was no other place to take shelter. All the cows and goats took shelter under another tree when lightning struck them.
As a result, all four people sustained injuries and the villagers took them to a medical facility at Sunki in the district and subsequently shifted them to Pattangi Hospital for treatment. All the cattle succumbed to the lightning strike.
When contacted, tehsildar Devendra Bahadur Singh Dharua said that he was aware of the incident. On the other hand, the Revenue Inspector has been sent to the spot to assess the situation and provide assistance to the affected villagers. Dharua said that after the Revenue Inspector submits his report, assistance will be provided to the affected families as per the government rules.
