Balasore, May 4: A thunderstorm accompanied by rain played havoc in the villages of Bahanaga block killing three children last evening. Five persons were also injured. The storm hit 15 villages under five gram panchayats.

Sania Singh, 10, Jitendra Das, 12, and Jhumuri Singh, 7, died when the walls of their houses collapsed.

“The injured are being treated at the district headquarters hospital. We have been informed about the death of poultry and cattle. The chief district veterinary officer is looking into the matter,” said Manorama Bhuyan, the tehsildar, Bahanaga.

Bhuyan said she got to know about the casualties around 8pm yesterday. Saud, Thalsada and Benapada are among the worst affected.

“The families of the deceased have been given Rs 10,000 each as ex-gratia from the Red Cross fund. They would get Rs 1 lakh each from the government, following relief code guidelines. The injured would be treated free of cost,” said Ranjit Mohanty, the district collector.

The storm also blew away roofs of houses in several villages apart from uprooting trees and electric poles, plunging large areas into darkness. Relief and rescue work is under way with the help of district administration officials, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and fire brigade personnel. The villagers have been lodged in temporary shelters and extended free kitchen facilities.

“Seven temporary shelters have lodged for around 4,000 people,” said Anjan Manik, the project director of district rural development agency.

“The rapid action force and fire brigade helped us to clear the roadblocks caused by the trees and electric poles. House damage enumeration has already begun and would be completed within two days.” he said.

A standing committee of the Assembly rushed to the spot. The chairman of the committee, Ananta Das, Prafulla Samal and Alekh Jena, visited the spot and took stock of the situation.