August 18th 2024.
Tragedy struck the state of Odisha on Sunday as six individuals lost their lives and four others were injured due to lightning strikes. The police reported that two people were killed in Kendrapara district while working in their fields, while an 18-year-old man was struck by lightning in Balasore district, resulting in his death and the injury of four others.
The victims were all women from the same family, who were working in a paddy field when the incident occurred. They were quickly taken to a nearby health center, but unfortunately, one of them could not be saved. The police also confirmed that there were deaths reported in Jajpur, Sonepur, and Bhadrak districts, but the identities of the deceased have not been released yet.
Expressing his condolences, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that the government would provide a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased and would cover the medical expenses of the injured. He also wished for their speedy recovery.
Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari expressed concern over the increasing number of deaths due to lightning strikes in the state. He stated that on average, around 300 lives are lost each year in Odisha due to lightning strikes, which is higher than the national average. As a preventive measure, the government has taken the initiative to plant 20 lakh palm trees through the forest department within a year. These trees are known to divert lightning strikes, reducing the chances of severe damage.
It is worth noting that just the day before, nine people lost their lives in six different districts of the state due to lightning strikes. The India Meteorological Department's Bhubaneswar regional center has issued a yellow warning for heavy rainfall in some districts for the next two days.
Despite the ongoing monsoon season, the state has received below-average rainfall, with only 686.5 mm of rainfall recorded from June 1 to August 18, as opposed to the normal 772.8 mm. While some districts have experienced excessive rainfall, others have been categorized as deficient. To address this issue, the state government has taken measures to plant more palm trees, which are expected to mitigate the impact of lightning strikes.
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