Lightning Kills 6 persons in Odisha

19 March, Bhubaneswar

Six persons were killed and 12 others injured in Odisha when lightning struck them at Jaripada village under Tangi police station in Khuda district Wenesday.

According to reports, some youths of Jaripada village took shelter under a roadside house when lightning struck the house killing four youths on the spot. The youths aged between 12 to 20 were playing cricket and took shelter when thunderstorm along with rain with hailstones struck there at around 3.30 PM, according to Police sources.

Two youths succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital. The injured youths were later shifted to Khordha district headquarters hospital and Capital hospital in Bhubaneswar.

Meanwhile, the state Government has announced ex-gratia to the tune of Rs.1.5 lakh out of the Chief Minister’s relief fund to each victims family.

The Government would also bear all treatment costs of the injured , said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Arukh.

Lightning being a major life taking natural calamity in Odisha , claimed as many as 3400 persons during 2001 to 2013.