Bhubaneswar: Massive thunderstorm and lightning strike in the coastal areas of Odisha including Khurda, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur claimed a life and left 4 injured Thursday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Sasikal Dhal (72) of Kendrapara district.
Besides, two young men of Balabhadrapur village under Pattamundai block limits were injured. Further, a mother and son duo sustained serious injuries after a coconut tree fell on their house at Harinbabi village of Dhumat Panchayat under Kendrapara block.
Injured were admitted to district headquarter hospital.
Humans apart, four rooms of Saraswati school in Indupur were also gutted due to lightening strike. A police tent house in Tinimuhani too cave in. Reports from the ground also stated that hailstones have damaged Rabi crops in the district.
Areas near Jajpur road, Koroi Dharmasala suffered power failures due to rain and thunderstorm. Dozens of big trees, lamp posts were uprooted.
Others places like Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbanj also experienced hailstones and rainfall.
In next 24 hours, moderate rainfall is expected in other places including Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Jajpur, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Balasore, Sundargarh, Khurda, Keonjhar, Kalahandi and Mayurbanj.
The Regional Meteorological Centre here issued rainfall and thunderstorm alert to districts such as Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Balasore, Bhadrak received alert from the Regional Meteorological Centre.
PNN
