When dark clouds dull the burning sun and lightning flashes in the height of summer in cruel May, people at village Kaputikra, 160 km from Rourkela, do not rejoice but are scared of it, especially if it is a Monday.
Call it the Murderous Mondays. It is on Mondays in May that tribal villagers have lost their near and dear ones.
On Monday, May 12, 2008, five children died and four others were injured when lightning struck them while they were playing under a tree.
On Monday, May 12, 2003, nearly 100 cattle -cows, buffaloes and goats - were killed in lightning strike.
Again on Monday, May 10, 1999, seven farmers were working in their field when a sudden lightning struck them, killing four and injuring three.
Another Monday on May 14 and this time an elderly woman Kamala Khadia was seriously injured in lightning.
The series of mishaps, especially this year's May tragedy has so shaken the residents that some of them have even planned to shift elsewhere.
It was the concluding day of a religious congregation at this village and people were dancing to the strains of 'Hare Krishna, Hare Rama' when the sky was suddenly enveloped with dark cloud and rain came in no time.
{{/usCountry}}It was the concluding day of a religious congregation at this village and people were dancing to the strains of 'Hare Krishna, Hare Rama' when the sky was suddenly enveloped with dark cloud and rain came in no time.
{{/usCountry}}As ferocious lightnings dazzled the sky, they ran for cover. But nobody took notice of the children playing under a tree four of whom were killed.