Bhubaneswar: At least 18 persons were killed while four others were critically injured after they were struck by lightning in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Khurda and Kendrapara districts Friday.
Six persons were killed and two were critically injured when lightning struck them in Betanoti, Baisinga, Badasahi, Udala and Khunta blocks of Mayurbhanj district. Two critically injured women- Parbati Kisku of Khadipal and Raimani Tudu of Kainchashola – were admitted to Betanoti community health centre.
The deceased were identified as Kuni Mohant (17) of Rasgobindapur, Sushila Rana (55) of Baisinga, Sarathi Mohant of Betanoti, Rajendra Behera of Khunta and Laxman Murmu of Badasahi. A youth was killed in lightning strike while working at his farm at Chunatiha village under Udala police limits, while a girl student sustained critical injuries at Padmalochan High School in the same district.
Two persons working in an agricultural field died after being hit by lightning at Barunagadia under Basta block in Balasore district. Similarly, an elderly woman died and a girl was injured in lightning at Singakhunta and Srijung villages of the district.
Adding to it, lightning claimed the life of a youth and injured two others at Manikapur in Khurda district.
In Kendrapara district a 50-year-old farmer, Nrusingha Jena, of Brahmanasahi under Rajnagar police limits died in lightning strike while he was going to work at his farm Friday morning. Locals took Nrushingha Jena to Rajnagar community health centre where he was declared received dead. Rajnagar police seized the dead body and sent it for autopsy to Aul community health centre, said IIC Sukant Kumar Patra.
PNN