3 Killed By Lightning Strikes Amid Severe Weather in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Three individuals tragically lost their lives due to lightning strikes in different parts of Odisha on Thursday. According to reports, the state experienced intense northwesterly winds, accompanied by lightning and rain, particularly in the districts of Phulbani, Ganjam, and Gajapati.

A girl lost her life when lightning struck Chhatighar village under the Tikabali police limits in the Phulbani district. Her parents narrowly escaped the fatal strike.

In Ganjam district, a young man was killed instantly by lightning in Gadagovindpur village, located under K Nuagaon police limits in Digapahandi.

Meanwhile, in Gajapati district, a woman fell victim to a lightning strike in Rachaguda village under Mohana block.

Earlier, the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar had issued a warning, forecasting the possibility of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph in several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri by Friday.

Meanwhile, the maximum temperature in Odisha soared, with 12 places recording temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius, Jharsuguda being the hottest at 47 degrees on the day.