Lightning Claims 13 Lives In Odisha, Nor'wester Leaves Scores Of People Homeless

Bhubaneswar: At least 13 people have also been reported dead due to lightning and thunderstorm in different parts of the State on Thursday.

Lightning claimed lives of two persons each in Sundergarh, Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district and Dhenkanal. Similar deaths were reported from Balikuda in Jagatsinghpur, Keonjhar, Kantabanji in Bolangir, Krushnaprasad in Puri and Maidalpur in Nabarangpur district. In Koraput too, two persons including an infant were killed after lightning struck them.

Heavy rain accompanied by hailstorm destroyed over a hundred houses in Dandimaha, Dubulumaha, Sriniketa and Dipumaha areas in Kandhamal district. Maximum damage was witnessed in Dandimaha as Nor’wester blew off asbestos and tiles of several houses rendering people roofless following which district administration swung into action and shifted all affected persons to nearby schools and ashrams.

The unseasonal rains and storm also left a trail of destruction to private and public property in Bonai of Sundergarh district, apart from damaging vegetable crops in Jareikela area.

Large trees, electric and telephone poles were also uprooted in the storm, throwing normal life out of gear in many areas. Gusty wind accompanied by heavy showers also pummelled Bhadrak, Balasore, Berhampur and Bhubaneswar.

Nine persons were killed after being struck by lightning at different places across #Odisha today; several places also witness heavy rainfall pic.twitter.com/avlxFDcCJr

— OTV (@otvnews) March 19, 2020

Reportedly, the Met department had issued dangerous thunderstorm and lightning warning for several districts of Odisha. The alert was issued for Basudevpur block in Bhadrak district; Simulia, Soro, Bahanaga, Remuna and Oupada blocks of Balasore district; Gondia, Kamakhyanagar, Kankadahada and Bhuban blocks of Dhenkanal district; Sukinda block of Jajpur district; Ghatagaon, Patna, Anandapur and Hatadihi blocks of Keonjhar district; Thakurmunda, Kaptipada and Udala blocks of Mayurbhanj district; Reamal and Tileibani blocks of Deogarh district; Naktideula, Rairakhol, Jujumara and Jamankira blocks of Sambalpur district; Kantamal block of Boudh; Puintala, Loisinga and Agalpur blocks of Bolangir; Tarabha, Sonepur, Ulanda, Binika and Dunguripalli blocks of Subarnapur; Bheden, Barpali, Attabira and Bargarh blocks of Bargarh district.