Bhubaneswar: Thirteen persons died and four others were seriously injured after lightning struck them in nine districts of Odisha on Thursday afternoon.
In Sundargarh district, a group of kendu leaf workers had gone inside the forest, on the outskirts of Ghantibuda village, to clear the bush around the kendu trees when thundershower suddenly lashed the area at around 5 pm. They took shelter under a tree to protect themselves from rain and were struck by lightning. While two workers, Babulal and Mangulu, died on the spot, another worker Raghunandan was critically injured and the remaining sustained minor injuries. He was rushed to the primary health centre at Kumutimunda and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital.
In Dhenkanal district, two persons died and two others seriously injured in lightning in Sadhangi village under Gondia block. The deceased have been identified as Chandrakanta Samal and Rashmi Ranjan Samal while the two injured Baidyanath Das and Ganesh Sahu have been admitted in the hospital at Gondia.
In Balangir district, a labourer Juga Bhoi (32) of Sargul village under Kantabanji police limits died while he was preparing bricks on the outskirts of the village.
In Keonjhar district, one Kalindri Nayak (55) of Baishab Sahi in Kandarapasi village died while he was grazing cattle.
In Nabarangpur district, Bidyadhar Gouda of Batkari village under Papadahandi police limits died while he was on the way to his house with his cattle.
In Jagatsinghpur district, a youth Bapi Nayak of Apandara village of Balikuda block died while working in his agriculture field.
In Kalahandi district, a youth Ujjwala Nayak of Bagamunda village of Golamunda block died while working in his land.
Besides, lightning killed a man Rama Chandra Majhi and his 11-month-old daughter of Jira village of Kotpad block in Koraput district died while they were sitting on the varandah in their house.
In Ganjam district, Tiki Palei (18) of Hatiguda village and Nayani Nayak (55) of Brahmanapadar village died on the way to their house while a minor boy of Jagannathprasad village under Bhanjanagar block was seriously injured.
