As many as five persons were killed in lightning strikes in different places of Kendrapada and Cuttack districts on Sunday. Reports said that four persons were killed being struck by lightning at Mahanga village and Barkanda village under Mahakalpada block of Kendrapada district.
The identities of the deceased persons were yet to be ascertained. In another incident, a farmer died in the Salepur area of Cuttack district due to lightning. The deceased was identified as Ranjan Behera of Lakhanpur village. Behera was working in his farmland when he was struck by the thunderbolt. Notably, 320 persons have been killed in lightning strikes in 2018-19 in the State.