Bhubaneswar: People of the twin city Cuttack and Bhubaneswar received the much-awaited respite from the prevailing scorching heatwave as rain lashed the region on Sunday late evening.
As predicted by the regional centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar, Kalabaisakhi rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning occurred in different parts of the state, including Cuttack and Bhubaneswar bringing down the temperature by a few notch.
Lightning strikes reportedly killed at least four people and 32 cows in separate incident at different places of the state. In the first incident, two youths were killed at Gandhi Chowk of Sanakhemundi area of Ganjam district after lightning struck them when they were standing under a tree following a heavy rain in the area. Both of them were working in a Meena Bazaar and took shelter under the tree following rainfall. The deceased have been identified as Dugula Pradhan of Nirakarpur area in Khurda district and Sanyasi Sahoo of Palasara area of Ganjam district.
In another incident, a 35-year-old woman named Amrita Pradhan died after being struck by lightning while she standing under a tree at Katingia village under Raikia police station limits of Kandhamal district. The mishap took place while she had gone to graze goats.
In the third such case, another man named Sanjay Gauda of Chanduli village under Hinjili police station limits of Ganjam district died after lightning struck him last evening.
Lightning strike also killed one Lambadhara Panigrahi of Nuagaon in Badagada police station area. He was struck by the lightning while working in the agricultural field
As many as 32 cattle, including 20 at Dhepagaon village in Gudari Tehsil of Rayagada district and 12 in Narayanpatna area of Koraput district, also died after being struck by the lightning on Sunday.
