Odishatv Bureau
Kendrapara: With frequent lightning deaths in Kendrapara in recent times, the district administration has issued advisories to gram panchayats to persuade farmers not to expose themselves in open fields during thundershowers.

The panchayatiraj institution representatives have been asked to convince farmers not to expose themselves out in the open, the Collector in Kendrapara district, Pradipta Kishore Pattnaik said today.

Six persons died of lightning in Kendrapara district this year, with three agricultural labourers having perished in Chakroda village near here on a single day two days back, according to official reports. A day earlier, another farm labourer had expired after being struck by thunder bolt while the first death had taken place sometimes back.

"Lightning took a toll of 113 lives during past five years," District Emergency Officer Rudra Prasad Mohanty said.

Since lightning often precedes rains, people need to be alert on possible thunder strike when there is heavy downpour, he said.

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