Anugola: A sudden lightning strike claimed the life of one farmer and left three others critically injured in Odisha’s Anugola district on Sunday.
According to sources, the incident took place around 10-10.30 am at Nathaposi village under Pallahada police limits when a group of around 12 men and women were working in agricultural fields. Severe weather unexpectedly rolled in and before they could seek safer shelter, a powerful bolt of lightning struck the area, hitting the four individuals.
One farmer, identified as Mathae Marandi, died on the spot due to the intense impact. Three others, including two workers, who were in the field, and a minor girl, the niece of the deceased who was standing nearby holding an umbrella, suffered severe injuries. Nearby villagers rushed to the scene and shifted the injured in an 108 ambulance to Pallahada sub-divisional hospital, where the condition of the minor girl is stated to be stable.
Local authorities have been alerted to the incident, and an investigation into the tragedy is underway.
Lightning strikes during seasonal rainstorms remain a major hazard for agricultural labourers across rural Odisha.at At least 13 lightning deaths were from six districts in May this year. A study conducted under the lightning monitoring awareness programme of Fakir Mohan University found 48 human fatalities and 86 cattle deaths during March-May period, which is around 18 per cent of Odisha’s average annual lightning-related fatalities.
The state recorded 1,625 deaths due to lightning between 2019 and 2024. The government has also sanctioned Rs 35 crore to forest department for planting palm trees in agricultural fields as part of a mitigation strategy.