Natural Calamities / Lightning Strike Kills Woman Worker in Khordha

Bhubaneswar, Aug 10: A woman labourer reportedly lost her life, and another was critically injured after lightning struck while they were transplanting paddy at Tangi in Odisha’s Khordha district on Monday afternoon, officials said.

The incident occurred near Dikshitpada pond in Talagad Kuhudi mouza under Tanghi police limits, they added.

According to reports, women labourers from Ganjam regularly travel to Tangi to work in paddy fields. During transplantation work, lightning struck, killing one woman on the spot and leaving another seriously injured. The injured worker was rushed to Tangi Community Health Centre for treatment.

In a similar incident, four students, including a girl, sustained injuries after lightning struck while classes were underway at the government UP school in Kuhudi Lakshmidharpur under Tanghi block in the district.

The injured students were admitted to Tanghi Community Health Centre, where their treatment is continuing.

Officials said both incidents highlight the vulnerability of outdoor workers and schoolchildren during sudden weather changes.
Also Read: Odisha Braces for More Rain, Fresh Cyclonic System Looms Over North Bay of Bengal

The IMD has already forecast heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in Odisha till August 16 due to a fresh low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal A cyclonic circulation is likely to develop tomorrow, bringing another spell of rain to the state. Heavy showers have been predicted today in 14 districts, including Khordha and Cuttack.

Local authorities have urged residents to remain cautious during thunderstorms and avoid open fields or unsafe structures. The state government has assured medical care for the injured and compensation for the deceased worker’s family, sources said.