Three security guards die from lightning strike in Orissa

Sambalpur, Jun 11 (UNI) Three security guards at Hindalco's captive mines at Talabira, 40 km from here, were killed when lightning struck them while they were inside the mines.

The sources said here today the victims were identified as Siba Prasad Behera (35) of Ganjam, Pramod Kumar Sahu (39) of Nayagarh and Dushmanta Patel (25) of Nuapara.

The three security guards, who had entered into the mines at about 1930 hours on June 9, did not return after their duty hours.

Later, when the other security personnel searched for them and to found their bodies on a heap of mud yesterday.

The three were taken to the VSS Medical College and Hospital at Burla but the doctors declared them brought dead.

Meanwhile, the mine workers alleged that the security guards had died due to landslide but the local police and management of the company maintained that they were killed as lightning struck them inside the mines area.

The workers in the mines resorted to cease work after the death of the workers demanding at least Rs two lakh compensation to the next of kin of each of the victims.

All the three bodies were sent for post-mortem, the sources added.

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