Dhenkanal: A 55-year-old farmer and his son died after being struck by lightning while working in their paddy field in Kamakhyanagar of Dhenkanal district on Sunday, leaving their family and village in shock.
The deceased have been identified as Santosh Dehury, 55, and his son Satyanarayan Dehury, 24, of Balipada village under Kamakhyanagar police station in Dhenkanal.
According to locals, the two had gone to their farm near Gordia village to plant paddy saplings. While they were working amid rain, a sudden and intense lightning strike hit them directly in the field.
Fellow farmers working nearby rushed to the spot and found both father and son seriously injured and lying in the field. They were immediately taken to Kamakhyanagar hospital.
Doctors there declared both of them dead on arrival. Kamakhyanagar police reached the hospital after being informed, seized the bodies and began an investigation.
The incident has cast a pall of gloom over Balipada village. Santosh was the main breadwinner of the family, and Satyanarayan worked alongside him in farming. Losing both at once has left the family devastated.
The IMD has been forecasting thunderstorm and lightning activity in several districts of Odisha over the last few days.
Officials have urged farmers and villagers to avoid open fields during rain and thunderstorms for safety.
