Sundargarh/ Badasahi/Balasore: Six people, including two brothers, were killed, while two others sustained serious burn injuries in separate incidents of lightning across the state Sunday.
In a tragic incident, three persons, including two siblings, were killed and two others sustained critical burn injuries when lightning struck during a hockey match at Sankarabahal village in the district Sunday evening.
The deceased have been identified as Sumant Gauda, Sushant Gauda and Rabi Narayan Danti.
The incident took place under Talsara police limits when some youths from the village were engaged in a hockey match. As people were busy with the game, lightning coupled with thundershowers lashed the village. After abandoning their match, the players and spectators took shelter under a tree when the natural disaster struck, killing the trio on the spot. The two injured were rescued and admitted to Sundargarh district headquarters hospital (DHH) in critical conditions.
Police have seized the bodies and sent them for autopsy and initiated a probe into the incident.
As the report of the deaths spread, a pall of gloom descended on the village.
In a similar incident, six youths were killed in a lightning strike during a cricket match in the Jaripada panchayat area of Khurda district in March, 2015.
In another incident, a girl died after being struck by lightning at Sanakeraka village under Basadai block in Mayurbhanj district Sunday. The deceased was identified as Rashmita Mohant (19).
Similarly, one person was killed after lightning struck Bishnupur under Bahanaga block in Balasore district while another death was reported from Kupari village under Khaira tehsil in the district. Another
man was also killed after being hit by lightning at Bati village under Simulia police limits in the same district.
