Nor’wester blues: Cricketer dies in lightning strike in Balasore district

Kulida: A local cricketer was killed today afternoon in a lightning strike at Belgaon village under Basta police limits in Balasore district.

The deceased youth was identified as 30-year-old Sagar Jena from Belgaon.

According to a senior official of Basta police station, some youths of the village were playing cricket at a nearby playground. Nor’wester-induced rain started lashing the village before the game was over. The youths then decided to stop the game and return back home. All of a sudden, lightning struck leading to the fatal mishap. Sagar sustained severe injuries in the lightning strike.

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The cricketer was rescued by some other youths and was immediately admitted to a hospital in Basta in critical condition. However, doctors at the health facility declared him ‘brought dead’.

A pall of gloom descended on the village after news of Sagar’s sad demise spread.

On the other hand, some locals alleged that due to poor road connectivity, an ambulance vehicle called to take Sagar to the hospital could not reach the spot and halted nearly half a kilometer away. Sagar was carried up to the vehicle on a sling cot, thereby causing an unusual delay.

“We are being deprived of basic services in the hours of need,” the villagers rued.