Six Killed In Lightning Strikes In Separate Places In Odisha

Keonjhar/Baripada/Balasore: As many as six deaths were reported due to lightning strikes in different parts of Odisha on Friday.

As per reports, three youths including two students were killed in a lightning strike while they were out fishing at Badakathara village under Khunta Police limits in Udala of Mayurbhanj district. The lightning struck when the three persons were standing under a tree during rain, informed sources.

After being rushed to Khunta Hospital by fire brigade personnel, they were declared brought-dead by the doctors. The bodies were sent for post-mortem to PRM Medical College and Hospital.

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The deceased have been identified as Dibyasankar Mohanto (27), Jamini Mohanto (18) and Kousish Mohanto (18).

In another incident, two women of Naradpur Panchayat under Jhumpura block in Keonjhar district were killed after being struck by a bolt of lightning. Moreover, another woman from the panchayat was also injured.

Another death was reported from Kusudiha village in Balasore district.

Earlier today, Meteorological centre in Bhubaneswar had issued an orange warning and alerted about thunderstorm, lightning and spells of intense rainfall/hailstorm at some places over Khurda, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack districts till 6 PM today. A similar warning was also issued for Boudh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Bargarh, Bolangir, Sonepur, Rayagada and Koraput districts by the MeT centre.

Later in the day, heavy rain and lightning accompanied by hail and gusty wind with speed reaching up to 40 to 50 KMPH struck Balasore causing heavy damage to trees and houses apart from downing power and telecommunication lines.

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