Lightning kills five in Odisha

At least five people were killed and four injured in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Odisha, an official said Saturday.

The lightning and thunderstorms struck many places in the state Friday evening.

An official from the state relief commissoner's office told IANS that two people died near Cuttack city, 30 km from Bhubaneswar.

The firebolt struck a group of people working in a brick kiln. Two men aged 20 and 21 died on the spot, four sustained critical injuries, he said.

According to the police, the districts of Deogarh, Balasore and Sundergarh have reported one death each.

In Deogarh, a 44-year-old man died while supervising a road construction work near Niktimal village, police said.

At least 25 people have died in the state this month by lightning strikes taking the toll to 200 this year.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs.1.5 lakh to victims' kin.