Bhanjanagar: Seven farmhands suffered serious injuries after they were struck by lightning while working at a farm at Pathara village under Bhanjanagar tehsil in Ganjam district Saturday.
Among the injured were three women. The injured were rescued by the fire brigade and admitted to the Bhanjanagar sub-divisional hospital. Condition of one of the woman remained critical and she was referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for advanced treatment.
The injured were Gouri Gouda, Sushama Pradhan, Ilash Pradhan, Krushna Gouda, Bachia Gouda, Padma Gouda and Ramesh Gouda.
Sources said the incident occurred while the workers were engaged in the vegetable farm of Bachia Gouda to clean grasses and pluck vegetables.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning lashed the village. In a bid to escape the rain, all workers went to take shelter under a banyan tree near the farm. Lightning struck them, leaving them unconscious.
Locals have demanded that the treatment expenses of the injured be borne by the government.
PNN
