Lightning claims ten lives in Orissa, 18 injured

Bhubaneswar, June 4 (UNI) At least ten people were killed and 18 injured, some of them critically, when lightning struck them at various places in Orissa during the past 24 hours.

Official reports here today said while two each died in Cuttack and Banki, one each was killed in Tirtol, Bhuban, Kujang, Nilagiri, Khurda and Jagatsinghpur.

Eleven people were injured when lightning struck them while they were taking shelter under a tree at Nuasahi village under Nilagiri block following heavy rains. Similarly, three people each were injured and admitted to hospital in Cuttack and Bhuban due to lightning.

Heavy rains lashed several parts of Orissa as weather condition favoured for the onset of the southwest monsoon in the next 48 hours Unofficial figures, however, put the toll in lightning at 15 during the past two days. State Revenue Control Room when contacted said they were yet to receive a final report from the District Collectors about the actual casualty in their respective district in lightning during the past 48 hours.

UNI DP SJC MA PM2014