On Wednesday six people lost their lives, and five others sustained critical burn injuries due to lightning strikes across different locations in the state. The fatalities were reported from Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Dhenkanal districts, according to an official government release.
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased victim.
Among the victims was Rakesh Tihadi, a farmer who tragically died in a lightning strike in a village under the Khaira police limits of Balasore district. Another unidentified young man also lost his life in the Nilagiri area of Balasore. In Bhadrak district, Gauri Das, a farmer from Bhaga Ram village, and in Dhenkanal district, Bhimsen Parida, a farmer near Kamakhyanagar, were also killed by lightning strikes.
Details of the other deaths and injuries were still emerging at the time of reporting. The state authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
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