Bhubaneswar: At least 1,075 people were killed due to lightning strikes during the last three years in Odisha, the state Assembly was informed on Thursday.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari shared this information while replying to a question in the House. The highest number of 81 deaths due to lightning strikes between 2022 and 2024 took place in the Mayurbhanj district followed by Balasore district (68) and Ganjam district (60), he said.
The data presented by the Minister in the House revealed that lightning strikes have claimed 306 lives during 2022-23 and 272 during 2023-24.
Similarly, 201 deaths have been confirmed during the current financial year so far. Ex-gratia has been paid to 77 victims’ families and 124 cases are under consideration.
The state government has declared lightning as a specific disaster since April 1, 2015, and Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia assistance is provided to the kins of deceased persons as per the norm, the Minister said.
The ex-gratia amount, which is being provided to victims’ families, is equivalent to the amount of SDRF/NDRF norm of the Centre.
However, the state government has no plan to increase the amount by amending the existing Odisha Relief Code, Pujari said.
