Rourkela, June 9: One person died when the branch of a tree fell on him due to a thunderstorm that hit the city last evening.

The deceased has been identified as Sanjay Dundung, 18, of Dahiposh slum at Sector 9. Though local people and passers-by rushed Dundung to Ispat General Hospital and he got admitted to the ICU, later, he succumbed to his injuries.

Moreover, two women were injured at Sector I when lightning struck them. They were also shifted to the same hospital and are said to be out of danger.

The thunderstorm, accompanied by heavy rain, threw life out of gear in the city.

The roads remained blocked at many places because of the uprooted trees and broken branches.

The thunderstorm and rain also resulted in a power cut that had lasted for over six hours.

The storm started shortly after 5pm, and it had rained heavily for more than an hour and a half at Koelnagar, Jagda, Shaktinagar, Bisra, Nuagaon and the sector areas, while Chhend, Civil Township, Basanti Panposh and other nearby localities experienced moderate to mild rain.

This morning, the administration geared up to remove the uprooted trees and the broken branches from the roads across the city.

However, the downpour failed to end the sweltering heat that the area had been experiencing over the past two days.

This year, Rourkela already experienced the maximum temperature of 46.6 degrees Celsius.

Yesterday, the maximum temperature was 43.8°C and the minimum 28.4°C.