9 killed, over 20 injured in lightning strikes in Odisha: Officials

The nine killed included a minor boy. The two killed were from Mayurbhanj, two from Bhadrak, and one each in Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, and Ganjam districts, said officials

Published on: Aug 18, 2024, 12:22:16 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneshwar: At least nine people were killed and 20 others injured in separate incidents of lightning strikes across different parts of Odisha on Saturday, officials aware of the incident said.

The nine killed included a minor boy. The two killed were from Mayurbhanj, two from Bhadrak, and one each in Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, and Ganjam districts, said officials.

In Mayurbhanj district, a tribal couple—Lachhman Murmu and his wife Sakar Murmu—were busy in paddy transplantation when they fell to a bolt of lightning as they tried to rush back to safety, said officials.

In Bhadrak district, two farmers—Amar Sethi and Hemant Barik—were killed after lightning hit them while they were working in the field, officials added.

A 13-year-old boy died in the lightning strike in Keonjhar, while 12 people were injured in Bargarh.

Odisha has recorded 10,741 deaths due to lightning in the last five years, according to the data from the Climate Resilient Observing-Systems Promotion Council.

The area-adjusted lightning deaths (deaths per 1,000 sq km) were highest in Odisha with 69 deaths per 1,000 sq km and second highest at 256 deaths per one million population after Madhya Pradesh (261) according to the data.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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