Bhubaneswar: The state government Monday said at least 51 persons were killed in Nor’wester thunderstorm and rain in various parts of the state since April 1 this year. Meanwhile, four more people were killed Monday when lightning struck them in Bargarh, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal and Sambalpur districts taking the total toll in the state to 55.
Informing this to media at the secretariat, revenue minister Maheswar Mohanty said of the total casualties, 47 persons were killed by lightning while four died due to Nor’wester rain.
A 55-year-old man died as he was struck by lightning at Kutasingha village in Sambalpur district. Luckily, his wife, two daughters and three sons escaped unhurt. Notably, the state reported 1,256 lightning deaths over last three years. According to officials, most of these deaths occur between May and September. Of the total deaths, 1,069 deaths (about 85 per cent) occurred during these five months.
Nearly 400 people die in Odisha due to lightning, an official said.
In 2015-2016, the number of lightning deaths was 399 while in 2017-18, the figure rose to 460, as per Special Relief Commissioner office.
Odisha saw 4,689 deaths due to different disasters during the last three years of which the number of deaths due to lightning accounts for 27 per cent of the total disaster deaths. Mohanty said compensation is being given away in these cases as per the government’s provision.
Meanwhile, the R&DM minster said standing crops in nearly 28,000 hectares have been damaged and around 561 houses have been partially damaged in Bargarh, Subarnapur, Malkangiri, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Dhenkanal due to hailstorm.
26,899 hectares of crop has been damaged in Bargarh alone where five houses have also been partially damaged. Crops in nearly 923 hectares in Subarnapur have sustained massive damage.
“We started disbursing agriculture input subsidy and house building assistance based on preliminary reports submitted by District Collectors of affected districts,” said Mohanty.
Alert in 22 districts
Bhubaneswar: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) here Monday issued thunderstorm alert for 22 districts. Initially, the alert was sounded for 17 districts which was later extended to five more. They included Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Boudh, Nuapara, Bargarh, Sonepur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Balasore, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Malkangiri.
