Bhubaneswar, May 17 – At least nine people, including six women, lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in multiple lightning strike incidents across Odisha on Friday, as severe thunderstorms swept through several districts.
Fatalities Reported Across Six Districts
According to official reports, fatalities occurred in six districts:| District | Fatalities | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Koraput | 3 | Three women from the same family killed |
| Jajpur | 2 | Two boys killed while standing on a verandah |
| Ganjam | 2 | One student and one woman killed in separate areas |
| Dhenkanal | 1 | Woman struck while in her village |
| Gajapati | 1 | Woman unloading bricks died after lightning strike |
Tragedy in Koraput
The most devastating incident took place in Paridiguda village under Laxmipur police station limits in Koraput district. Three women from the same family died when lightning struck a makeshift hut they had taken shelter in while working in nearby fields.The deceased were identified as:
- Brudhi Mandinga (60)
- Kasa Mandinga (18) – granddaughter of Brudhi
- Ambika Kashi (35) – resident of Kumbharguda village
Jajpur: Two Boys Die in Jenapur
In Jajpur district’s Burusahi village, two boys aged 15 and 12 were killed when lightning struck as they took shelter under a verandah during a storm in Dharmasala area. The victims were:- Tare Hembrum (15)
- Tukulu Chattar (12)
Ganjam: Student and Woman Killed
In Barida village of Kabisuryanagar tehsil, a class 7 student, Om Prakash Pradhan, was killed by a lightning strike. In a separate incident in Belaguntha area, a 23-year-old woman collecting mangoes was also killed by lightning.Other Casualties
- In Dhenkanal, Surushi Bishwal (40) died in Kusumundia village under Dashipur panchayat.
- In Gajapati, a woman lost her life while unloading bricks from a tractor-trailer in Mohana.
IMD Had Issued Red Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued a red warning predicting thunderstorms and lightning, accompanied by hail and gusty winds ranging from 60 to 70 kmph. The alert covered several districts including Koraput, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Jajpur, Balasore, and Ganjam.Government Response
District emergency officials confirmed that ex-gratia compensation will be provided to the families of the deceased in accordance with existing government relief norms.Authorities continue to monitor weather developments closely and have urged citizens to remain indoors during severe weather conditions.