KalingaTV News Network
Athagarh: Adding to the lightning fatalities of Sunday across the State, three more people were killed and 10 sustained critical injuries in the Athagarh sub-division in Cuttack district today. The list of casualties includes mostly farmers and school children.
According to reports, three persons in the sub-division–one each at Kadalibadi, Manipur and Dorada villages–died after being struck by lightning. The incident occurred in the afternoon hours between 2.30pm and 3.30pm while the farmers were busy working in their crop fields.
The deceased have been identified as Santosh Rout of Kadalibadi, Ashok Biswal of Manipur and Hadibandhu Sahoo of Dorada villages.
Around 10 girl students of the Rasarasikapur UGME School sustained critical injuries as a lightning bolt hit their school late in the afternoon. The students were immediately rushed to the Athagarh Hospital following the incident.
Heavy downpour accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed Athagarh and neighbouring areas today afternoon. The area recorded 50 millimetres of rain creating a state of panic. Locals have stated that such a situation had never happened in Athagarh in the last 20 years.
With inputs from Santosh Barik
Ms Kalinga