Lightning Claimed 48 Lives In 3 Years In Odisha’s Dhenkanal

Dhenkanal: The lightning disaster in Dhenkanal has claimed the lives of 48 people in the past three years, according to the district emergency wing.

District Emergency Officer, Sasank Shekhar Mishra said the victims have been paid compensation, but some of them are yet to get this as they could not submit the required documents to claim assistance.

The emergency officer’s report said that the deaths took place at Kamakhynagar, Bhuban, Kankadahad, Hindol, Parjang, Odapada and Gondia blocks in the district.

The report said a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to those killed were provided. The persons who were severely injured were given Rs 12,000 and Rs 4,000 were provided to people with minor injuries.

Sources alleged that the district administration has not taken up the awareness drive among the people to ward off such disasters. It has come to notice that most of the casualties have occurred due to thunderstorms. The sources added that awareness drives to educate them to not go out in the open would have been beneficial.