Bhubaneswar: Lightning strikes claimed at least five lives in separate incidents across the state on Wednesday, as by light to moderate rainfall continued in parts of the state.According to preliminary reports, two labourers were killed and two others seriously injured when lightning struck in the Mahulpada area under Dhenkanal Sadar police station limits in Dhenkanal district. In a separate incident, a youth succumbed to injuries after being struck by lightning while working in his field at Kanlapada village near Delang in Puri district.Another lightning strike at Haladiapada village under Harichandanpur block in Keonjhar district killed one person and left another seriously injured. In Cuttack district, lightning claimed the life of a woman at Kanjia village under Brahmapur panchayat.A senior official at the office of the special relief commissioner (SRC) said they were awaiting detailed information from the districts on the reported lightning deaths.He added that, in view of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) fresh forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three to four days, under the influence of a possible low-pressure area, the state govt has issued advisories to collectors to remain alert and take necessary precautions.“Districts under orange and yellow warnings must keep administrative machinery ready to face any eventuality,” said an advisory issued by the SRC office.A latest IMD bulletin stated that a cyclonic circulation is likely to emerge over the north Bay of Bengal within the next 24 hours. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region in the subsequent 24 hours.The IMD forecast added that several parts ofthe state are very likely to witness widespread rainfall due to the system in the next three to four days. A red warning for extremely heavy rainfall has been issued for Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts on Saturday.In addition, orange and yellow warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall will remain in effect for some districts over the next three days. The 12 districts under orange warning include Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Koraput, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, and Sundargarh.Several places in the state received light to moderate rainfall during the day and in the past 24 hours. The capital recorded the highest rainfall at 70 mm by 5.30pm on Wednesday, followed by Daringibadi with 62 mm. Dunguripali in Sonepur district also recorded 70 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, according to IMD reports.
