Bhubaneswar: Lightning claimed as many as 1,836 lives in Odisha in the last five years.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marandi Sunday informed this at the House while replying to a query by Congress legislator Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
There were 32 lightning injuries during the same period, the Minister informed, adding that Koraput district alone accounted for 63 deaths and 18 injuries.
Pointing out that lightning has been regarded as a state specific disaster since April 1, 2015. Minister Marandi informed that there has been an arrangement to provide relief assistance to a family if it loses a member or pets to lightning in accordance to the guidelines laid out by the central government.
Notably, besides lightning, tornado, heat wave, boat capsize, snake bite, drowning and whirlwind are also state specific disasters.
PNN
