Class X Student Among 2 Dead In Lightning; Berhampur Hit By Sudden Heavy Rain [Watch]

Bhubaneswar: Two persons, including a Class X student, were killed in separate incidents of lightning strikes as nor’wester rains lashed several districts in Odisha on Saturday.

Rajesh Kumar Goud, 15, was struck by lightning near Narayanpur in Ganjam district’s Patrapur block while he was returning home from Bamakei. He was rescued by locals in a critical condition and rushed to Digapahandi Community Health Centre (CHC), where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Rajesh had appeared in this year’s High School Certificate (HSC) examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), sources said.

The second death was reported from Brahmagiri area in Puri. Lightning struck Manoj Nayal (23) while he along with his parents was releasing rainwater from their vegetable field at Gobardhanpur. He rushed him to Rebana Nuagaon CHC in a critical condition and later shifted to district headquarters hospital in Puri, where he was declared dead, the sources added.

Waterlogging in Berhampur

Several localities in Berhampur were waterlogged as nor’wester rains lashed the city from 11 am to 3 pm.

While residential areas like Gandhi Nagar, Nilanachal Nagar, New bus stand, Gajapati Nagar and Braja Nagar faced the rain fury, drains also overflowed with the showers lasting for about 4 hours. Fire service personnel soon swung into action, dewatering waterlogged areas by using pumps.

Rainwater also entered the OPDof MKCG Medical College and Hospital and girls’ hostel. “We are de-watering the area by deploying fire fighters,” Sangram Panda, registrar of the medical college, told TOI.

A visually impaired woman was also rescued by Fire Service personnel from her waterlogged home in Subudhi Colony.

Houses damaged in Mayurbhanj

Around 600 houses were damaged in hailstorm that lashed Mayurbhanj district with Bisoi and Bangirposi blocks being the worst affected.

“Bisoi and Bangirposi blocks have been severely hit in the hailstorm. While 350 houses were completely damaged, 250 other dwelling units have been partially affected by the hailstorm that hit the area. As many as 18 villages under Bisoi and 39 villages of Bangiriposi block have been affected,” Mayurbhanj Collector Hema Kanta Say told reporters.

The district administration has launched relief and rehabilitation operations in both the blocks.