12 killed as 61,000 lightning strikes send shockwaves in India's Odisha

A staggering 61,000 lightning strikes across India's Odisha state in nearly two hours on Saturday left 12 people dead and 14 injured, special relief commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu said, Report informs via the Times of India.

And these strikes may not be over with the India Meteorology Department (IMD) issuing a warning of extreme weather conditions in the state till September 7.

A cyclonic circulation active over the Bay of Bengal may intensify into a low-pressure area in the next 48 hours and under its influence, widespread rain is likely to occur across Odisha.

The intensity of rain is likely to increase later in the week, according to an IMD bulletin. “Yellow warning for heavy rainfall has been issued in most districts till September 7,” the IMD further stated.

Weather scientists said these unusual and extreme lightning activities occur when the monsoon returns to normalcy after a long break. Collision of cold and warm air masses creates the perfect conditions for such unprecedented lightning events, they said.