Bhubaneswar, May 16: At least seven people lost their lives in separate incidents of lightning strikes reported from various parts of Odisha on Friday.
The most devastating incident occurred in Paradiguda village under Odia Pentha Panchayat in Lakshmipur block of Koraput district, where three members of a family were killed. The victims, an elderly woman, her granddaughter, and a young male relative had taken shelter in a small hut near farmland during a thunderstorm. A sudden lightning strike hit the hut, killing them instantly. Another elderly woman was seriously injured in the incident. The village is in deep mourning, with a pall of grief hanging over the community.
In a separate incident in Mohan Kanakata village, a young woman died after being struck by lightning while sitting outside her shop. Witnesses reported that she died on the spot.
Two more fatalities were reported from Berhampur, where lightning claimed lives in different locations. In Kebiri Baraput, under Bhanjanagar subdivision, a young woman died while plucking mangoes in an orchard when she was hit by a lightning bolt.
In Barida village under Kabisuryanagar block, a student identified as M. Prakash Pradhan was fatally struck by lightning while sitting on the veranda of his house during the storm.
Another casualty was reported from Khalipadi village in Similiguda block, where a young man lost his life while fishing in a river.
