Bhubaneswar: Aside from the natural calamities that wreck the state now and then, drowning claims more than one life on an average every day in Odisha. This was revealed by the state Revenue and Disaster Management department in the Assembly Friday.
As per the data furnished by the department, a total of 412 drowning deaths were reported from different parts of the state till November 12 this year alone. If the data is to be believed, it means that on an average nearly two people die due to drowning in the state daily. According to government statistics, after snake bites, drowning claims most lives in the state every year. In response to a query related to loss of lives in Odisha due to natural calamities and other reasons, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi Friday tabled a written reply before the state Assembly Friday.
The data claims that deaths due to snakebites still remain the number one killer in the state, which has taken the lives of 496 people so far this year alone. At the same time, Marandi stated that the state government has spent `544 lakh to recompense the families of snakebite victims in the state.
Furthermore, the data revealed that lightning claims the third most number of people in the state after snakebites and drowning. According to the report, 244 people have died to lightning strikes in the current fiscal alone. Compared to the number of lightning strike victims, deaths due to other natural calamities are less.
Data presented by the minister further said that cyclones claimed 53 lives this year, while 24 people died due to fire incidents. In addition, 13 lives were lost due to floods and 12 in sunstrokes. Other killer natural calamities included whirlwinds (8 cases) and landslides (3).