27 Orissa schoolchildren hurt in lightning strike

At least 27 schoolchildren in Orissa were hurt when lightning struck their school, an official said on Tuesday.

At least 27 schoolchildren in Orissa were hurt when lightning struck their school, an official said on Tuesday.

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Lightning hit Budhibar-Diakudh high school in the coastal Puri district on Monday afternoon when students were in their respective classes, said a district police official.

The injured students were immediately taken to a nearby private hospital from where they were later shifted to the Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati medical college hospital at Berhampur town in the southern district of Ganjam, he added.

Although all injured students are out of danger, four girl students complained hearing loss. The school building was also damaged.

The state government would bear the cost of treatment of the injured children and teachers.