In Balasore district, one woman died and another was injured after lightning struck them while working in farmland at Mathani village under Basta police limits. Similarly, one woman died and two others sustained critical injuries in a bolt of lightning strike at Sasan village under Singla police limits.
The third death was reported from Badadiha village under Jaleswar police limits. Two persons also reportedly injured in the lightning incident.
Similarly, two minor boys died after being hit by lightning strike at Krushna Nagar Adivasi Sahi in Jaleswar area. The minor duo had gone to graze cattle when rain accompanied by lightning lashed the area at around 4 pm. As they run for cover, a bolt of lightning struck them, killing the duo on the spot. They have been identified as Padan Marndi (12) and Gajendra Tudu (14).
The injured have been admitted to Basta and Jaleswar hospital.
In Mayurbhanj district, a man died in the lightning strike at Talakunda village under Khunta police limits. The deceased has been identified as Jaydev Mohanty.
According to sources, Jaydev was on his way back home after finishing works in his farmland when rain lashed the area. Suddenly, lightning occurred and he was hit by the bolt.
Some villagers rushed an injured Jaydev to Khunta hospital. However, doctors at the health centre pronounced him dead. A case of unnatural death has been reportedly registered at Khunta police station.
Another youth was killed in lightning strike at Padhua village under Basudevpur police limits in Bhadrak district. The youth was reportedly working at his farmland when the incident occurred.
In Nuapada district, a woman and her sister-in-law of Bharuamunda village under Komana police limits were killed as lightning struck them while they were taking shelter under a tree during rain. Similarly, two persons- one each from Bada Barahampur in Kholar panchayat under Delang block and Pubasasan village under Pipili in Puri district were killed by lightning.
While a man was killed and his wife got critically injured at Sosa Sankatapali villager under Anandpur in Keonjhar district, two persons were killed and one more was injured due to lightning at Banta block in Bhadrak district.
Also Read: Odisha recorded 280 lightning deaths in last five months: SRC
Similarly, a person and two cows were killed due to lightning in Bhaguathenga under Kujanda in Paradip.
In another such incident, a person was injured in Sundergarh district while two persons were critically injured after being struck by lightning at Batira village in Kendrapara district.
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Keeping this in mind and the 34 deaths in the past 36 hours has prompted the Odisha government to plan a massive awareness program to prevent casualties.
“We will educate school students and farmers on the extension system. We are presently planning to take a comprehension approach in this regard,” said Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi.
Fear of people falling prey to lightning continues till October every year, said the director of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority Subhendra Kumar Nayak, adding: “We are planning an awareness programme on a massive scale with the help of SRC’s office and the State government.”
As many as 2,297 people have succumbed to lightning strikes in the State during last seven years with an average of 327 people being falling prey to the natural calamity every year.
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While 140 people have so far died of lightening in 2017-18, 397 persons had died last year. Similarly, 403 people in 2015-16, 311 in 2014-15 and 372 in 2013-14 have been killed in lightning.
People witness lightning during March to May and June to September period. But lightning during the latter period claims more life.
“The intensity of lightning is 70-80 per cent more during June to September. Lives can be saved if people, especially farmers, avoid going to crop fields during the day time if it is a cloudy weather from 12 noon to 4 pm,” said director of Regional Meteorological Centre Sarat Chandra Sahu.
How to stay safe from lightning?
Always pay attention to the weather and make your plan
Avoid open areas and tall objects
Stay away from objects that may conduct electricity
Don’t ride bike during bad weather
If possible, take shelter in a car
Also Read: Flood-hit Jajpur limping back to normalcy, Kendrapara situation still grim
In Mayurbhanj district, two minor boys and one teenage girl were killed by a lightning strike in Baghuashala village under Chandua police limits near Baripada.
According to sources, the trio were out on the field to graze goats when rain accompanied by thunderstorm lashed the area. They ran for cover and took shelter under a tree when a bolt of lightning hit them, leaving them critically injured. As many as 18 goats were also killed in the lightning incident.
The trio was rushed to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital, Baripada where doctors pronounced them dead. The deceased were identified as Babula Nayak (16), a Class X student, Barsa Nayak (12), a Class VI student and Sujit Nayak (14), who studied in Class IX.
A woman also died in lightning at Badamachana under Suliapada police limits in the district.
In Dhenkanal district, one person died and three others were injured in lightning at Mahuliapasi village.
Yesterday, OTV carried a report that thunderbolt strikes on Odisha have increased by around 37 per cent during the year 2020-21. Despite the increase in lightning strikes, the toll in the State due to the thunderbolts has declined. When a total of 207 deaths had taken place in the State in 2019-20, the toll dropped to 156 in 2020-21, the OTV report said.
On the media report on lightning, State Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena stressed on installation of lightning arresters in all public buildings.
“Odisha State Disaster Management Authority has done quite a few things on lightning but a lot more is required in sensitising public on how to deal with lightning and how to prevent casualty besides making people aware about fixing lightning arresters in their houses,” Jena tweeted.
“All public buildings must install lightning arresters. More particularly, hospitals, schools, colleges, AWCs, PRI buildings must be retrofitted with lightning arresters on priority to prevent lightning-related casualties. Let’s act fast,” he added.
According to sources, the newly-wed couple and three other persons were sitting on the verandah of their house at Tangiriapal village in Keonjhar and preparing for their reception when lightning struck them.
All of them were immediately rushed to Anandpur hospital. The groom was declared dead while others are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Similarly, three other persons were also killed in lightning strikes at separate places in Balasore and Koraput districts. While two persons died in Balasore, one person was killed in Koraput.