Bhubaneswar, Feb 25: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today expressed deep grief over the tragic death of two persons in a hoarding collapse incident at Aiginia in Bhubaneswar and announced an ex gratia of ₹4 lakh each for the families of the deceased.

The victims, identified as Tuna Gouda and Sachitananda Pradhan, lost their lives after a hoarding crashed during a thunderstorm on Tuesday evening. Both were rushed to a nearby hospital following the mishap but were declared dead by doctors. A woman, Mausumi Nayak, who was also present at the spot, sustained injuries in the incident.

In a social media post, the Chief Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He announced that financial assistance of ₹4 lakh each would be provided to the next of kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) to support them during this difficult time.

The tragic incident occurred when the victims reportedly took shelter under trees to escape sudden rain and strong winds. A massive hoarding installed behind them collapsed as the storm intensified, trapping them underneath.

Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation stated that the hoarding had been installed illegally without valid permission by a private agency. The civic body has said that an FIR will be lodged and necessary legal action will be initiated.