BHUBANESWAR/BARIPADA/BARGARH : At least 17 persons died in lightning strikes at different places in five districts of the State on Friday. While seven persons have been reported dead in Balasore and five in Mayurbhanj, one death each was reported from Khurda and Kendrapara districts due to lightning.
In Bargarh district, three persons died after being struck by lightning. The places experienced heavy rainfall soon after the lightning struck.
In most of the cases, the mishap took place when the victims were working in paddy fields. Sources said the death toll is considered to be the highest on a day this year after June 8 when 10 persons were killed and eight injured in six districts in the State.Reports from Balasore district indicated that one elderly woman from Singakhunta village under Soro police limits, one each from Sikharpur and Raibania villages under Jaleswar police limits, two from Barunagadia under Basta police limits and one each from Maheswarpur under Sadar police limits and Narayanpur under Baliapal police limits have died after they were struck by lightning.
The first incident was reported from Barunagadia where lightning struck two youths who were working in the paddy field. Five persons injured in lightning have been admitted in the District Headquarters Hospital.
In Mayurbhanj district, five persons, including three women, were killed and three others injured after being struck by lightning. The injured included a Class X girl student and two women.The deceased have been identified as Laxman Murmu (42) of Srirampur village, Rajendra Behera (48) of Chundiha village, Kuni Mohanta (16), Susila Rana Rana (55) of Maheshpur village and Sharam Mohanta (55) of Sunahajar village.
Sources said Kuni was struck by lightning while she was returning home after grazing cattle and others fell victims to the disaster while working in paddy fields.Similarly, one person from Manikpur village in Khurda district and one from Rajnagar area of Kendrapara district were also killed. As per the norms, the next of the kin of deceased will be provided ex gratia of `4 lakh each.
In Bargarh district, two girls died on the spot after being struck by lightning at Khaliapali on Friday. The deceased have been identified as Sabitri Daradamegha (20) and Kausalya Daradamegha (15). In a separate incident, a farm labourer, identified as Kanhu Bhue (40) of Dumermunda village under Attabira police limits in the district died on the spot after being struck by lightning while he was working in a paddy field in Gaurtikra village.