Bhubaneswar: At least five persons were killed and four others critically injured after being struck by lightning at different places in Odisha on Saturday.
According to sources, two persons were killed and three others sustained critical burn injuries as lightning struck them at Niladri Prasad under the jurisdiction of Banapur police station in Khurda district.
The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment and their condition was stated to be critical.
In a similar incident at Talabarakote village under Dhenkanal Sadar area in Dhenkanal district, a woman was hit by lightning strike while having launch in her house. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and then shifted to the Athagarh Sub-Divisional Hospital where she succumbed.
A report from Gajapati district said a man died at Darupani village under Mohana police station limits after being hit by lightning strike when he had gone to a forest to graze sheep. The deceased has been identified as Kailash Pradhan.
In another incident in Boudh, a woman was killed at Routbahal village in the district in lightning strike when she had gone to the paddy field.
Similarly, a youth was killed after lightning struck him at Kutisingha village under Loisingha block of Balangir district.
Lightning strike also claimed the life of a farmer at Sarana village under Jagatsinghpur’s Balikuda block, the sources added.
One person at Jallarpur village in Niali area of Cuttack district and three others at Talasakara village in Ganjam’s Buguda were injured in lightning strikes. They are undergoing treatment at hospitals.