A devastating tornado killed more than 12 persons and injured nearly 150 others Tuesday evening besides leaving a trail of devastation at villages in Rajkanika block of the eastern Indian state of Orissa's Kendrapara district, reports say.
The tornado damaged more than 300 houses, uprooted a large number of trees blocking roads and toppled electric poles during its ten-minute spell of fury, a district official said.
Twelve bodies were recovered so far after the furious tornado swept through 11 villages in five gram panchayats, a senior police official said.
However, the death toll, which has been put at around 20 by local panchayat raj functionaries and residents, is likely to rise after a full assessment is made.
Over 150 persons were injured, many of them critically, in the storm. They have been admitted to local hospitals. The condition of about 25 persons, including elderly and children, was stated to be critical. Those with critical injuries were later shifted to S C B Medical College and Hospital in nearly city of Cuttack.
The administration sanctioned INR 100,000 each to families of the dead, INR 50,000 to those who were handicapped, INR 7,500 to seriously injured and INR 2,500 to injured persons.
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