Bhubaneswar: Nor’westers struck several districts in Odisha on Sunday, causing quite a bit of damage.
A 60-year-old man died after being struck by lightning in Sambalpur and a tourist went missing in Gajapati district’s Mahendragiri hills.
In Ganjam district’s Khallikot area, the storm damaged several houses, shops and other properties.
In the most tragic incident, a 60-year-old man lost his life in Jujumura area of Sambalpur district in the afternoon. He has been identified as Biplab Behera
of Baghiapada village in Boudh district.
Biplab and his younger brother Balaram were on way to a relative’s house when tragedy struck.
According to locals, the duo took shelter under a rest shed when a storm hit Jujumura. Both were injured after lightning struck the shed.
The Behera brothers were rushed to a nearby hospital, and shifted to Sambalpur District Headquarters Hospital when their condition deteriorated.
Biplab was declared dead on arrival by doctors at the district headquarters hospital, while his brother Balaram is responding to treatment..
Several places in Gajapati district felt the brunt of the Nor’wester in the afternoon.
Four tourists from Cuttack were on visiting the picturesque Mahendragiri. One among them, identified as Binod Jena, has been missing after the storm and rains.
Police and Forest Department officials launched an operation to trace the missing tourist.