Among the deceased, four were from Khurda district, two from Balangir district, and one each from Angul, Boudh, Jagatsinghpur, Gajapati, Puri and Dhenkanal districts. Three persons from Khurda, 8 from Balangir and one each from Cuttack, Angul and Ganjam also sustained injuries in the lightning strikes. Eight cattle casualties were also reported from different parts of the state.

“Ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakhs will be paid to each of the bereaved families. In case of cattle death, assistance would be extended as admissible,” it added.

The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), informed that the cloud-to-cloud lightning till 5.30 pm stood at 36,597 whereas the cloud-to-ground strikes was recorded at a scary 25,753.

The coastal region of Odisha, including the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, witnessed heavy rain with lightning strikes. Lightning bolts continued uninterrupted during the afternoon thundershower activities in Bhubaneswar and its neighbourhood. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 126 mm and 95.8 mm of rainfall respectively during a 90-minute spell in the afternoon.

Notably, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast likely formation of a low pressure area over North Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours under the influence of a cyclonic circulation, which is active, over the same region. The state may also witness thunderstorm activity with heavy falls during next 24 hours. Heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in some districts till September 7.

The weather agency has predicted heavy rainfall at one or two places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Boudh, Sonepur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal during the next 24 hours. Yellow warning of thunderstorm with lightning has also been issued for one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Sonepur and Boudh for Sunday.

It has advised people to take shelter in safe places during thunderstorm activity.

In this regard, letters have been issued to the Additional Special Relief Commissioner, PCCF of the Forest Department, PCCF of Wildlife Division, the Managing Director of OSDMA, all the RCCFs, Collectors and DFOs.

According to the new guidelines, only certified snake handlers can participate in the rescue and release operations and they are required to adhere strictly to the stipulated protocols, failing which will invite penal actions as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The intervention to save snakes will only be undertaken in situations where their presence poses a risk to human life, such as when they are found indoors or in close proximity to human habitation. The snake rescue work should be confined to instances wherein the snakes have entered human dwellings, regardless of whether they are of venomous or non-venomous species.

It further said that these handlers are volunteers and will not receive remuneration for their services from the Odisha Forest Department, which may also use their services to create awareness in the local population on the ecological importance of snakes, identification of snakes and how to avoid snakebites.

Any individual who obstructs the efforts of a certified snake handler during a rescue operation may face legal repercussions. Creating public panic, publicly exhibiting the rescued snake(s), or any other form of public display involving snakes, even if conducted by the snake handler, will attract legal penalties.

Notably, Odisha has been witnessing 1,000 deaths annually due to snakebite for the last five years. Till July this year, snakebite incidents have claimed at least 34 lives, including three children in Keonjhar.