Bhubaneswar: As many as four persons were killed in lightning strikes in three districts of Odisha on Wednesday afternoon. Of the deceased, three are said to be cattle herders who were struck by a lightning bolt while returning home with the cattle when thunderstorms lashed. Another woman who died in the lightning strike had taken shelter under a tree.
According to reports, Hiramani Munda, 65, and Binati Munda, 35, both natives of Santarapur village within Ghatagaon police station limits in Keonjhar district, were returning home along with their cattle herds when heavy rains followed by lightning lashed the fields. With no options left, both took shelter under a big rock in the forest. However, they were struck by a thunderbolt and fell unconscious.
Some locals rescued the duo and rushed to the Ghatagaon Hospital but doctors declared them ‘brought dead’, informed Dhenkikot police Outpost in charge, Taranisen Bagh, and added that the post-mortem of the bodies will be conducted Thursday morning at Patana hospital.
Similarly, a 57-year-old man, identified as Gandharbha Behera, a native of Gopalpur village in Dhokuta panchayat under Angul block within Bantala police station limits, was killed in a lightning strike. It is learned that Behera had gone to the forest near the village on Wednesday to graze the cows, and he was returning home at around 4 pm when rains lashed the area.
Meanwhile, a thunderbolt landed nearby killing Behera on the spot. Later, on intimation from locals, Bantala police arrived at the spot, seized the body; and sent it to Angul DHH for post-mortem.
In Sundargarh district, a woman was killed in a lightning strike in Gujapal village under the Tikayatpalli police station in Bonai sub-division this afternoon. The deceased identified as Meena Kalendri (47), had taken shelter under a tree when rain lashed the village while the last rites of a person was underway this afternoon. A thunderbolt struck the tree under which Meena had taken shelter, and as a result, she fell unconscious
She was immediately rescued by family members and taken to Sarsara Community Health Center for treatment. However, the doctor pronounced her dead. Reportedly, police have seized the body and the post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow, said sources.
In another incident, a woman, identified as Truptilata, wife of Ishwar Behera, from Badkhunta village under Mayurbhanj district’s Khunta police station was seriously injured in a lightning strike. According to reports, the thunderbolt struck an electric pole in front of her house while she was sleeping inside this afternoon. She was taken to Khunta CHC and is reportedly recuperating, sources added.
