Lightning in city: stone falls from Lingaraj Temple

--Lightning claims a life in city

BHUBANESWAR: Due to lightning, the Dadhi Nauti (crest of the temple) of Mairigiria temple, inside Lingaraj temple premises, fell down here on Friday afternoon. The crest of the temple, situated in the south-east part of the main temple, was weighing about a ton. Members of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) have recovered the damaged part of the 11th century old shrine following the incident.

The Mairigiria temple was used as store room of the ASI as no deities were worshipped here by the devotees, but an idol of Lord Vishnu was there. After getting information from the temple priests and devotees, ASI officials reached there and took the broken part. According to the temple priests, it was happened for the first time in their lifetime.

Except main temple of Lingaraj, no other temples have earthing facility to protect the temple from lightning, ASI officials said. As the affected temple had no earthing facility, that’s why the lightning hit the temple crest, priests said.

On the other hand, one person was killed due to lightning in the city on the same day. He was identified as Sudarshan Behera of Niladribihar in the city. When he was taking raest in his house during the rain, he was affected by the stroke of the lightning. He was rushed to the Capital Hospital, but he was declared dead.