Odisha records 1256 lightning deaths in last 3-year

Bhubaneswar: As many as 1256 lightning deaths have occurred in Odisha during the last 3 years from 2015-16 to 2017-18, said an official on Saturday.

In 2015-16, the number of lightning deaths was 399, whereas, in 2017-18, the figure was 460, the official said.

The total number of reported deaths due to different disasters during last 3 years is 4689.

Out of this, the number of deaths due to lightning accounts for about 27% of the total number of disaster deaths.

While lightning death is occurring in all 30 districts, highest 130 deaths have occurred in Mayurbhanj district followed by 95 in Balasore district and 89 in both Ganjam and Keonjhar district during this period of 3 years.

More than 30 deaths have occurred in 18 districts in the last 3 years.

Going by Blocks, highest 18 deaths have occurred in Bhadrak block of Bhadrak district followed by 17 in Remuna block of Balasore district and 15 both in Jaleswar block of Balasore district and Keonjhar block of Keonjhar district.

More than 10 deaths have occurred in 21 blocks of 11 districts, the official said.

There is no report of a death due to lightning from 21 Blocks, he added.

Most of the lightning deaths have occurred during the months from May to September. Out of total 1256 lightning deaths, 1069 deaths (about 85%) have occurred during the five months.