Bhubaneswar, July 30: At least 30 people were killed and 36 seriously injured by lightning in several places across the state today.

Sources said of the 25 deceased, seven each are from Bhadrak and Balasore districts, five from Khurda district and one each from Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Puri.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased. He has also directed the special relief commissioner to keep track of the situation and ensure relief for those affected.

Reports from Balasore district said of the seven people who died due to lightning in the district, four are women. Three persons were killed in Soro block. They have been identified as Ajay Jena, 26, Padmalochan Jena, 65, and Gjaendra Patra, 56. Besides, Gouri Patra, a woman of Basta area of the district was seriously injured. The lightning struck around 11.30 am.

Reports of lightning death also came in from Jaleswar. The deceased have been identified as Aswani Jena, 38, Sabita Majhi, 28, Pankaj Rout, 53, and his younger brother Arun Rout.

In Bhadrak, the deceased have been identified as Harihar Jena, 45, Sana Jena, 50, Diparani Pradhan, 22, Basanti Jena, 30, Padmini Malik, 50, Musi Mahali, 60, and Rabindra Behera, 28. One person died in Mayurbhanj.

In Keonjhar, a person died of lightning in Dantia village in Anandpur sub-division while five persons of Angarua village were seriously injured. In Khurda district, one person of Jamujhari village and four of Sundarpur village were killed while eight persons of Balipatapur village were seriously injured.

In Mayurbhanj district, a girl of Digidhar village under Thakurmunda block was killed while a student of Hariharpur village of Sarankul block in Nayagarh district died. In Jajpur district, one person of Sodi village in Panikoili block was killed while another of Sathilo village under Balianta block in Puri district died. Another person of Kumbharapada village under Mahakalapada block met the same fate.

Additional reporting by Sibdas Kundu in Balasore