Tornado strikes Orissa, 20 killed, more than 200 injured

Report by Orissadiary correspondent; Kendrapara: At least twenty persons were killed and more than 200 injured in hailstorm that lashed the Rajkanika area in the afternoon on Tuesday. The people of 11 villages under five gram panchayats bore the brunt of the sudden hailstorm. Around 300 houses in two adjacent villages were also damaged in the calamity.
District sub-collector says the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel have been pressed into service to carry out the relief and rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the state relief commissioner announced Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia each for the families of the deceased. The state relief commissioner also announced Rs 25,000 for the damaged houses. The district officials rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
orissadiary.com