Bhubaneswar, March 22 -- Two persons, including a Class-X student, were killed in separate incidents of lightning strikes as nor'wester rains lashed several districts in Odisha today.

The deceased have been identified as Rajesh Gaud of Digapahandi area in Ganjam and Manoj Nayak of Brahmagiri area in Puri district.

Lightning struck Rajesh, a Class-X student, while he was on his way from Bamkei to Narayanpur under Digapahandi block in the afternoon.

Locals rescued Rajesh and rushed him to Digapahandi Community Health Centre (CHC) in a critical condition. However, he was declared dead on arrival by the doctor.

Rajesh had appeared this year's High School Certificate (HSC) examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) in...