<p>The Odisha government said that 1,621 people were killed due to lightning strikes in the state in the last four years.</p>.<p>In a written reply to the assembly, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marandi said on Friday the deaths happened since 2017-18 and the next of the kin of the deceased persons were paid compensation of up to Rs 4 lakh.</p>.<p>Mayurbhanj district recorded the maximum lightning deaths at 161, followed by Ganjam (123), Keonjhar (119) and Balasore (109).</p>.<p>Seventy-three persons were injured in lightning strikes in the last four years. Most of the injuries were reported from the Malkangiri district where 12 people were wounded, Marandi said.</p>.<p>On the measures taken to prevent deaths due to lightning strikes, the minister said the government has signed an agreement with Earth Networks.</p>.<p>Eight lightning detection sensors have been set up in Keonjhar, Bolangir, Berhampur, Jeypore, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar and Panikoili so that people could be warned, he said.</p>.<p>These sensors have the capability of predicting lightning strikes within a range of 200–250 km, he said</p>
<p>The Odisha government said that 1,621 people were killed due to lightning strikes in the state in the last four years.</p>.<p>In a written reply to the assembly, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marandi said on Friday the deaths happened since 2017-18 and the next of the kin of the deceased persons were paid compensation of up to Rs 4 lakh.</p>.<p>Mayurbhanj district recorded the maximum lightning deaths at 161, followed by Ganjam (123), Keonjhar (119) and Balasore (109).</p>.<p>Seventy-three persons were injured in lightning strikes in the last four years. Most of the injuries were reported from the Malkangiri district where 12 people were wounded, Marandi said.</p>.<p>On the measures taken to prevent deaths due to lightning strikes, the minister said the government has signed an agreement with Earth Networks.</p>.<p>Eight lightning detection sensors have been set up in Keonjhar, Bolangir, Berhampur, Jeypore, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar and Panikoili so that people could be warned, he said.</p>.<p>These sensors have the capability of predicting lightning strikes within a range of 200–250 km, he said</p>