At least 12 people were killed, 14 others injured when 61,000 lightning strikes across Odisha in just under two hours. These strikes could not end anytime soon because the India Meteorology Department (IMD) has issued a warning for extremely severe weather in the state until September 7.
A cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal might become a low-pressure system, which would likely bring extensive rain to Odisha. According to an IMD bulletin, the rain is predicted to get heavier later in the week. “Yellow warning for heavy rainfall has been issued in most districts till September 7,” the IMD stated.
Four of the deceased in last week’s lightning strikes were from Khurda district, two from Balangir and one each from Angul, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur and Puri, the relief commissioner wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Besides, eight cattle were also killed as lightning struck Gajapati and Kandhamal districts,” he added.
“Ex gratia of Rs 400,000 will be paid to each of the bereaved families. In case of cattle death, assistance will be extended as admissible,” he said.
Weather scientists said these unusual and extreme lightning activities occur when the monsoon returns to normalcy after a long break. Collision of cold and warm air masses creates the perfect conditions for such unprecedented lightning events, they said.