Five persons died and as many persons were critically injured in lightning strikes in several parts of Odisha on Friday evening.
As per reports, one farmer succumbed to the lightning strike in Kualo village under Parjang police limits and another farmer was killed while working in his field at Raynrusinghapur under Tumusingha police limits. Both are from Dhenkanal district.
Similarly, two more persons were killed after lightning struck them at Baharipur village under Keonjhar's Hatadihi block while working in the fields. The deceased were identified as Nrusingh Jena and Kanhu Jena from Baharipur village.
Another man was killed at Ghanamal village in Padmapur due to lightning strike, while two of his sons were injured.
Three other persons were seriously injured in lightning strike while working in the fields at Bhadrak's Dhamnagar block. All the three injured were rushed to the Dhamnagar hospital for treatment.
An eyewitness in Padmapur said, "We were working in the fields when lightning started. We were trying to get under a tree to save us from drenching in rain when lightning struck the man which killed him on the spot. Two of his sons accompanying him were also injured in the incident."
As per IMD’s Regional Centre in Bhubaneswar, heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Boudh and Sonepur in the next 24 hours.
It is pertinent to mention here Odisha is currently witnessing another spell of enhanced rainfall activities. Earlier, incessant rainfall triggered by a low pressure system had adversely affected normal life in different parts of the State. Several parts in Motu of Malkangiri district were remained inundated following heavy rainfall.