Odisha News: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen),Dec 5: In a concerning report presented to the Odisha Assembly, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced that at least 1,075 people have lost their lives due to lightning strikes over the past three years. This information was shared during a session on Thursday, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with extreme weather in the state.
According to the Minister, the highest incidence of fatalities occurred in Mayurbhanj district, with 81 deaths reported between 2022 and 2024. Following Mayurbhanj, Balasore recorded 68 deaths, while Ganjam reported 60 fatalities due to lightning strikes. The data reveals that 306 lives were lost in the 2022-2023 period and 272 in the following year. Thus far in the current financial year, 201 deaths have already been confirmed.
In response to these tragic events, the state government provides an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the families of those who have died from lightning strikes, a policy established since April 1, 2015. While 77 families have received this assistance, 124 cases are currently under consideration. However, Minister Pujari noted that there are no plans to increase the compensation amount by amending the existing Odisha Relief Code.
