Bhubaneswar: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi Friday revealed in the Assembly that a total of 246 people have died due to lightning in state during 2019-20.
Replying to a question of MLA Debi Ranjan Tripathy, Marndi said 115 domestic animals have also been killed by lightning this year.
The state government has provided ex-gratia to the tune of Rs 4.6 crore to the families of the victims. Besides, it has provided compensation of Rs 16.16 lakh towards the loss of the domestic animals, the minister said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has taken steps to provide early lightning warning to the people. The Revenue and Disaster Management department has introduced a mobile application ‘Satark’ in this regard, he added.