At least three persons including a four-month-old baby were killed while four other persons were injured lives in separate incidents after a devastating thunderstorm accompanied by gusty surface wind and lightning hit several parts of Odisha including the Capital city Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on Saturday evening.
Moreover, several families have been rendered homeless after their dwelling houses were damaged after heavy rain lashed on Saturday night under the influence of western disturbance.
According to sources, a couple along with their baby girl was asleep after dinner last night at Metaguda village under Padia block in Malkangiri district. Meanwhile, the district received heavy rainfall along with hailstone showers following which a portion of their house collapsed.
The girl died on the spot while her parents sustained critical injuries in the mishap. They have been admitted to the local hospital and their condition is said to be critical.
Similarly, a youth was killed while two others have been injured after being struck by lightning at Basudevpur in Bhadrak district. The deceased has been identified as Kartik Majhi.
The three friends were sleeping inside a house when lightning struck them. Family members rescued them in critical condition and rushed them to the local community health center (CHC). However, doctors declared Kartik brought dead.
The two other injured have been referred to Cuttack-based SCB Medical College and Hospital for further treatment after their condition deteriorated.
In another incident, a Class VI girl was killed after being struck by lightning at Ramkrushnapur village under Simulia police limits in Balasore district. The little girl was playing near the house when lightning struck her. She was admitted to Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) where she died while undergoing treatment.
On the other hand, several houses were destroyed in the devastating rainfall in different parts of the Koraput district. Many thatched and asbestos houses were blown away in the gusty wind. Many families have been rendered homeless and are currently seeking refuge at shelter homes and other alternative arrangements.
Furthermore, several houses have been flooded and are underwater in Sunabeda's low-lying areas. Normal life has been severely paralyzed in both Malkangiri and Koraput as rainfall continues to wreak havoc in both districts.
Meanwhile, the torrential rain has brought heavy losses for farmers after standing crops and vegetables on acres of land were damaged at Brahmagiri in the Puri district. Agricultural fields have been flooded with knee-deep water. Farmers are now a worried lot as the rainfall continued on Sunday as well.
Meanwhile, IMD has issued a yellow warning for 17 districts that are expected to experience heavy rain and thunderstorm activities today.