Bhubaneswar: The pinnacle (Dadhinauti) of the historic Chandi Mandir in Cuttack was damaged after a lightning strike hit the shrine during a thunderstorm on Sunday afternoon, temple authorities said. No injuries were reported in the incident.
The lightning struck the temple at around 4.30 pm as gusty winds and rain lashed the city. The impact damaged a portion of the Dadhinauti, the ornamental crown-like structure atop the temple, with a piece of stone and an iron clamp breaking away and falling from the pinnacle.
Witnesses said the incident triggered panic among devotees and local residents present near the shrine.
“The Dadhinauti of the temple was damaged due to the lightning strike. A piece of stone and an iron clamp fell off the structure. Fortunately, no one was injured,” a priest of the shrine said.
He added that such an incident had not been witnessed at the temple in recent memory. “We have never seen anything like this in the last several years,” the priest said.
