Lightning kills 30 in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, July 30 (IANS) At least 30 persons were killed and 35 others injured due to lightning strikes in different parts of Odisha, police said on Saturday.

While the maximum number of eight deaths were reported from Bhadrak district, there were seven casualties in Balasore district and five in Khurda, said police.

Besides, three deaths were reported in Mayurbhanj and one each in Kendrapara, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Nayagarh, police said, adding details of three deaths are awaited.

Special Relief Commissioner Pradipta Mohapatra said they had received reports of several death cases due to lightning.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday expressed his condolences over the deaths of people due to the lightning strikes.

The Chief Minister also directed the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) to disburse assistance immediately to bereaved families as per the Relief Code.