At least six persons were killed and two others injured as lightning struck various parts of Ganjam district in Odisha.
The victims were working in fields and taking bath in the ponds when the lighting struck, leaving the six dead on spot, a district official said.
Two others injured in the incident were undergoing treatment at primary health centre at Kankorada where their condition was stated to be stable.
The deceased were identified as Bula Sethi (38) of Anantei village (Kukudakhandi tehsil), Raju Das (50) of Dayapalli (Hinjili tehsil), Rama Nayak (56) of Samapalli (Sorada tehsil), Suresh Rout (13) of M Champeitapur (Kabisurya Nagara), Surendra Sethi (42) and Subodha Khaike (35) of Naudiustha village (Sanakhemundi tehsil), the official said.
Another person in Bhanjanagara area suffered injury when a branch of a tree fell on him, the official said, adding the injured was being treated at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here.
Lightning also claimed lives of a cow and at least 28 goats at S Badapur under Patrapur tehsil, the official added.
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"We have asked the tehsildars to furnish the detail
reports on lightning death along with the post-morterm report. We will recommend the government for the ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased after getting the reports," in-charge district emergency officer PK Sahu said.
The ex-gratia, amounting to Rs 4 lakh, would be provided to the family members of the bereaved, as per the government guideline, said an officer.
The ex-gratia in the lightning death was increased from Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh from last year, he said.
The compensation to the loss of cow and goats in the natural calamity would also be provided to owner, as per the government norms after proper verification, he added.
