Superstitions and blind beliefs still exist in the society. In a glaring example, a youth of Sundargarh district, who died in a lightning strike on Sunday afternoon, was buried by locals in a cow dung pit to bring him back to life.
The incident was reported from Pamara village under the Baragaon police station of the district.
Reports said two friends Manoranjan Podha and Gokula Podha of Pamara village had been to a weekly local market. On their way back to home, the duo was struck by lightning near the village following which Manoranjan became unconscious and fell on the ground and his friend Gokula sustained injuries on his legs.
Following the incident, the villagers instead of rushing Manoranjan to a hospital, attempted to resurrect him by burying him in a cow dung pit.
After the attempt proved futile, they took him to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
The other youth Gokula, who was injured, was admitted to the Baragaon Community Health Centre (CHC).