Expectant mother among 4 killed in lightning strikes in Odisha

Koraput: At least four persons were killed while three others sustained critical injuries in lightning strike in separate places of Odisha on Sunday.

Two persons died and three, including a minor, were injured after lightning struck them while they were working in a field at Chinna Khemundi Bhadra village under Narayanpatna block in Koraput district on Sunday. The deceased have been identified as Mari Radha and Mari Laxmi while the injured are Sitarapu, Swapna and Mari Jamba.

Similarly, a woman identified as Saraswati Patra of Nahagana village under Ghasipura police limits in Keonjhar district was cooking in the kitchen of her house on Sunday when lightning struck her. Though Patra was immediately rushed to Anandapur Hospital, she was declared brought dead by doctors.

In another incident, a pregnant woman was killed after lightning struck her at Saleibeda village under Thakurmunda police limits in Mayurbhanj district yesterday. The deceased Parbati Gagarai was collecting firewood when the incident occurred.

It is worth mentioning that the regional centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar had on Sunday issued thunderstorm and lightning warning for 22 districts of Odisha till 8:30 PM.