Jajpur/Balasore: Three persons were killed today in separate incidents of lightning strike in Jajpur and Balasore districts of Odisha, of which two died in Dharmasala block of Jajpur and one in Balasore.

In the first incident, the two deceased were identified as 19-year-old Banchhanidhi Mallick, the son of Sulekha and 16-year-old Jogi Mallick, the son of Baban, both from Bhubanpur village of Gadamadhupur panchayat under Dharmasala block in the district, local police sources stated.

Banchhanidhi and Jogi had gone to Kulabengi nearby their village to cut grasses for cattle at around noon. All of a sudden, it started raining when they were on their way back home and the duo took shelter under a tree. However, lightning striked on them leading to their untimely deaths.

A pall of gloom descended the village after news of the youth’s sad demise spread in the locality.

In the second incident, the deceased was identified as 47-year-old farmer Bibekananda Khuntia from Kanlakhunta village of Nayakhandi panchayat under Khaira block of Balasore. Lightning striked on him when Bibekananda was working in his farmland along with his younger brother Sambhunath.

Later, Bibekananda was rescued by some locals and rushed to Khaira community health centre for treatment. However, doctors at the health facility declared the farmer ‘brought dead’.