At least four persons, including a student, died in the Nor’wester (Kalabaisakhi) induced thunderstorm in Odisha’s Malkangiri district on Thursday.
The strong winds accompanied with heavy rain and thunderstorm left a trail of devastation in the district. Several huge trees were uprooted, thatched houses blown away and some buildings collapsed due to the natural disaster.
In a tragic incident, two labourers including a student died after a portion of the under-construction boundary wall of an airstrip collapsed following the gale accompanied with heavy rain.
The deceased student has been identified as Manoj Hembram. He had cleared Plus 2 commerce with second division, the result of which was published a couple of days back.
Manoj’s family members are crestfallen over the development. As per them, Manoj had high ambitions. After passing Plus 2, he wanted to be self-reliant to pursue his higher education.
“My brother wanted to pursue higher study with the help of his own earning and hence, he was going for work during the summer vacation. But we lost him unfortunately as the wall collapsed due to the heavy rain and wind,” said Manoj’s elder sister Sharmina.
“Manoj was very happy with his result. He informed us about it yesterday. He wanted to pursue higher education with his own earning. However, the storm took his life. After his death, his and our dreams have been shattered,” said Manoj’s sister-in-law Puja Hembram.
Apart from Manoj, another woman who lost his life due to the collapse of the wall has been identified as Tilottama Benia.
Tilottama was working on the spot along with his husband and daughter Sunita. The family was working in the airstrip to cover up the cost of Sunita’s Plus 2 admission. However, Sunita’s mother lost her life in the unfortunate accident.
As per reports, Tilottama wanted to save her from the heavy rain and storm by leaning against the wall. But, unfortunately the wall collapsed leading to her death.
“The rain and wind were very powerful. In a bid to save herself, my mother leaned against the wall. However, the wall collapsed and I lost my mother. The wall was constructed just two months back,” said Sunita.
Meanwhile, locals have demanded stern action against the contractor and officials alleging low quality work.
“Two people are dead and other two are injured not because of the accident induced by the heavy rain and wind... They have been killed due to poor quality of work. Stern action should be taken against the erring contractor and officials,” said a local resident.
In another unfortunate accident, as many as two fishermen died after a boat in which they were ferrying capsized in the Satiguda water reservoir due to heavy rain accompanied with stormy wind under the influence of Kalbaisakhi.