Speedy wind accompanied by rains created havoc in most parts of Western Odisha districts, including Jharsuguda and Bargarh, on the wee hours of Sunday leaving eight dead and two missing.
Special Relief Commissioner’s office sources said that four boat mishaps at separate places inside the Hirakud reservoir claimed six lives, including two women and four fishermen. The fishermen identified as Tejrajo Kalo (65) and his son Bibhuti (35) and Jagannath Dharua (35) and Khusiram Sa (28) belonging to Jharsuguda went under the water while fishing in the reservoir.
While one of the two women killed was identified as Purnima Mallick (45) of Pudubagh area in Bargarh district, another woman Hemakanti Dhurua drowned when her boat sank at Ambabana in the same district. Her husband Ashok Dhurua, who was with her, is still missing.At the same time, two persons have died due to tree falling and lightning. One Dukhanashan Raudia of Birenbandh village went missing in the reservoir and he is yet to be traced out.
One who died due to lightning belonged to larabira village under Jujomura block of Sambalpur district and one who died due to tree felling was identified as an 8-year-old Bibek Seth of lakhanpur area in Jharsuguda district.Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the deaths and declared ex-gratia amount of Rs1.5 lakh to each deceased’s family.