Severe lightning in various districts in Odisha killed at least 17 people and injured nine on Wednesday, bringing the death toll in the last month to 25. Private weather forecaster Skymet on Tuesday had predicted that rain would hit Odisha's capital Bhubaneswar in the next three days. However, the Indian Meteorological Department made no forecast about pre-monsoon showers.
The lightning on Wednesday followed by heavy rains also claimed lives of 21 livestock in various parts of the state. The onslaught of the monsoon has affected southern and coastal regions of Odisha os far, ANI reported.
The casualties took place in Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Khurda and Mayurbhanj districts.
In a similar incident, lightning killed eight people last month. At least 85 people have died in India due to lightning in 2016, the special relief commissioner's office told ANI.
The Met department had said that pre-monsoon showers are likely from June 5, 2016. Skymet said on Tuesday that "a trough is entering from this system up to South Odisha due to which pre-monsoon activities are expected in the city [Bhubaneswar]." On Wednesday, Skymet said that pre-monsoon showers will continue for the next 24-48 hours in the capital, bringing the maximum temperature, which had climbed to 40 degree Celsius, down.
