As many as five people on Sunday lost their lives after being struck by lightning in two separate incidents in Mayurbhanj and Jharsuguda district.
In the first incident, a woman and her niece were killed after being struck by lightning at Nimadiha village under Bahalda police limits. Sources said, the incident occurred while the two had gone to bathe in a pond near the village.
The two sought shelter under a tree after it poured. Meanwhile, lightning struck killing the two on the spot. The incident has spread a pall of gloom in the area.
Similarly, a cowherd was killed after he was struck by lightning while he had gone to graze his cattle at Barudihi village under Tiring police limits. Cops have seized the bodies and sent them for post-mortem. Cases of unnatural deaths have been registered in this connection.
In the third incident, a woman and her son were killed after they were struck by lightning during the 11th death rituals of a relative at Basupali village under Banaharpali police limits in Jharsuguda district. On the other hand, another person was rendered critical with severe burn injuries due to the lightning strike.