At least six persons were killed and 12 others injured when lightning struck them at a village in Tangi area of Odisha's Khordha district today, officials said.
The victims, aged between 10 and 20 years, were at a cricket playground on the outskirts of Jaripada village when lightning struck, a senior official said.
While six persons died, 12 others received burn injuries and currently undergoing treatment in hospitals, Khorda District Collector Niranjan Sahu said after visiting the site.
Soon after the incident was known, the state announced Rs 1.5 lakh each as ex-gratia to the families of the deceased.
Announcing this in the state Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said the injured persons would be provided free medical treatment.
The injured were first taken to Tangi hospital and then shifted to Khordha district headquarters hospital and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
