4Photo© hindustantimes.com15 killed in lightning strikes across Odisha in a single day
According to the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), the highest toll was reported from Koraput district, where four people lost their lives. Ganjam district reported three deaths, while two fatalities each were recorded in Nabarangpur, Jajpur, and Dhenkanal. One death each was reported from Rayagada, Cuttack, and Mayurbhanj districts. Over a dozen others were injured in the incidents.
In Koraput district, four people were killed in two separate lightning strikes. In Paradiguda village under Odiapentha gram panchayat in Laxmipur block, Budri Mandinga (60), her granddaughter Kasa Mandinga (16), and Ambika Kashi (35) died instantly after being struck by lightning while taking shelter in a hut near their paddy field. Five others were injured in the same incident. In another case, Das Jani (32) of Khalpadi village in Semiliguda block died while fishing near Lenjiguda village.
In Ganjam district, Rita Goud (30) of Kebiri Brahmapur under Belaguntha police station died after being struck by lightning in a mango orchard. In A. Barida village, 13-year-old Omprakash Pradhan was killed while playing cricket on the village playground.