Bhubaneswar, Aug 18: Nine people were killed and several others were injured in lightning strike across Odisha on Saturday.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed profound grief over the deaths and expressed his sympathies to the bereaved family members and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured
Majhi has directed officials to pay an assistance of Rs four lakhs to the kin of each of the deceased and announced that the state government would bear their medical expenses of the injured.
While two death cases were reported in Mayurbhanja, Balasore and Bhadrak districts, the lightning claimed one life each in Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, and Ganjam districts.
Eight cows were also killed by lightning in Keonjhar district.
Light to moderate rain continued at different places on Saturday. The IMD said rainfall would continue at many places in the state for three more days.
