Bhubaneswar, May 18 -- At least 16 people were killed and a dozen others were injured in separate incidents of lightning strikes that wreaked havoc across Odisha on Friday, officials said on Saturday. The Odisha state disaster management authority (SDMA) said that of the 16 deceased, four were from Koraput district; three from Ganjam; two each from Nabarangpur, Jajpur and Dhenkanal districts; and one each from Rayagada, Cuttack and Mayurbhanj districts. "We have received reports of 16 deaths due to lightning strikes across the state on Friday. Our officials would verify the deaths and accordingly ex gratia compensation would be given," said state revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), thunderstorms accompanied with squally/gusty winds with speeds of up to 60-90 kmph was reported over parts of Odisha in the 24 hours ending at 8.30am on May 17. The Met department has forecast thunderstorms with lightning to occur at Mayurbhanj, Keonjhargarh, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Bolangir,Koraput, Rayagada, and Gajapat districts on Sunday. The coastal state has seen 1,418 deaths from lightning between 2020 and 2025....