Bhubaneswar: At least three persons were killed due to lightning strike at different places in Odisha on Thursday.
According to sources, northwesterly activities including strong surface wind accompanies by lightning and rain were reported from Phulbani, Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
The three people died while they were out in the open during the northesterly. A girl died while her parents escaped narrowly as lightning struck in Chhatighar village under Tikabali police station in Phulbani district.
Similarly, a young man died on the spot as lightning struck him in Gadagovindpur village under K Nuagaon police limits of Digapahandi in Ganjam district. A woman also fell victim to lightning in Rachaguda village under Mohana block of Gajapati district on the day.
Earlier in the day, the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar forecast that thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph may occur at one or two places of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri by Friday.
Meanwhile, maximum temperature crossed 44 degree Celsius in 12 places of the state with Jharsuguda recording the highest 47 degree on the day.