Bhubaneswar: Expressing grave concern over the rise in lightning-related deaths in Odisha, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi on Monday announced the government’s decision to install lightning sensors in all the districts of the state soon.
“These sensors will be installed at the high rise buildings, temples and cyclone shelters to disseminate early information regarding possible lightning strikes or thunderstorm through short message services (SMS). This will help people shift to safe locations, if such weather conditions were to prevail,” the SRC said.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this purpose will be signed with a US-based Earth Network within a week, Sethi added.
At least seven persons died and two others suffered critical injuries in separate incidents of lightning strike in Sundargarh, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts on Monday.
More than ten people were killed due to lightning strikes in Puri, Cuttack, Balasore, Khurda and Mayurbhanj districts of the state the previous day.
