Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Aug 12: A woman died and seven others sustained critical injuries after being struck by lightning amid heavy rain near Gop’s Balighai in Odisha’s Puri district early Monday morning. The deceased has been identified as Kunti Bhoi, aged 45.
The incident occurred while Kunti and others were planting saplings in a field. Bol Bam devotees were also present at the scene. Villagers quickly came to their aid, transporting the injured to the district headquarters hospital. Despite medical efforts, Kunti Bhoi succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
In recent years, Odisha has witnessed a troubling increase in lightning-related fatalities. According to the Special Relief Commissioner’s office, there were 791 lightning deaths reported in the past three fiscal years.
The figures include 282 deaths in 2021-22, 297 in 2022-23, and 212 in 2023-24.
Notably, on September 2, 2023, the state experienced 61,000 lightning strikes in just two hours, resulting in 12 deaths. The districts most affected by lightning fatalities include Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Koraput, and Nabarangpur.
