At least 10 persons were killed and 24 others were injured as lightning struck them at various places in Mayurbhanj and Jajpur districts on Tuesday morning. In one incident, six persons, including four women, were killed and five others, including four college girls, seriously injured when lightning struck Balimundali village under the Khunta police station in Mayurbhanj. According to reports, some persons had taken shelter at a passenger rest shade near the Canal Chhak area of the village due to heavy rain when the lightning struck the shade killing six persons on the spot.
The seriously injured persons were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital where the conditions of four were stated to be critical. Udala Tehsildar Premangshu Chand said the families of the deceased would be given compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh each.
Hours after this incident, lightning struck at several places in Jajpur district, leaving four people dead and 19 injured. While two labourers engaged in the repair of the embankment of river Baitarini at Patapur died on the spot and 11 others were injured when lightning struck them. Another person, who was returning home from by a cycle, died due to lightning. Similarly, another person died and eight others were injured while they were working in paddy fields in different places in Dharmasala. Of these injured persons, five with severe burn injuries have been admitted in the SCB Medical College Hospital.