1,256 lightning deaths reported in 3 years in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: On an average nearly 400 people die of lightning every year in Odisha while 1,256 people have succumbed to lightning strikes during the last three years from 2015 to 2018.

In 2015-16, the number of lightning deaths was 399, while it claimed 460 lives in 2017-18, as per the recent information released by Special Relief Commissioner's office here.

Official sources said, 4,689 people died in different disasters during last three years in the State. Out of the total casualties, lightning accounts for about 27 percent of the total disaster deaths.

A highest of 130 deaths were reported from Mayurbhanj district followed by 95 in Baleswar and 89 in both Ganjam and Keonjhar districts during the last three years. More than 30 deaths occurred in 18 districts in these years.

As per block-wise casualties, the highest of 18 deaths occurred in Bhadrak block of the district followed by 17 in Remuna block of Baleswar district, 15 each in Jaleswar block of Balasore district and Keonjhar block of Keonjhar district.

There has been no report of deaths due to lightning from the remaining 21 blocks of the State.

Senior officials informed that most of the lightning deaths occurred during the months between May and September.

As many as 1,069 deaths, more than 85 per cent, occurred during May (209), June (231), July (264), August (192) and September (173). Less number of deaths occurred in the months of April (89) and October (62) compared to the above months.