Eight persons were killed and seven others injured in lightning strikes in seven districts of the State on Friday.
As per reports, lightning claimed two lives in Bhadrak district, one each in Baleswar, Kendrapada, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj and Jharsuguda.
Besides, 11 cows were also killed in lightning in Jajpur district.
Notably, lightning have claimed the lives of more than 40 persons in the last two months in the State.
The Chief Minister has written to the Central Government to expedite the setting up Doppler radars in Baleswar and Sambalpur districts to improve forecast of natural calamities.
Presently, only the State’s Doppler radar at Paradip is fully operational and the others at Gopalpur, Baleswar and Sambalpur are under construction for over a period of more than two years.