Keonjhar, Aug. 5 (UDN): A garment shopkeeper sustained serious injuries after a lightning strike reportedly hit near his roadside stall while he was using a mobile phone in Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident occurred at Sudusudia village under the Ghasipura police station limits during a spell of rain and thunderstorms.

The injured has been identified as Firoz Ali, who was running a garment stall along the roadside when the incident took place.

According to local residents, Firoz was using his mobile phone when a lightning strike occurred in the vicinity. The impact allegedly damaged the device and left him with serious injuries. Hearing a loud explosion, nearby people rushed to the spot and found the shopkeeper injured.

He was immediately rescued and shifted to the Anandapur Sub-Divisional Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. Doctors are monitoring his condition, though no official update on his health was available at the time of filing this report.

The incident triggered panic among local traders and passersby, with many gathering at the spot soon after the lightning strike. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

The mishap comes amid continuing thunderstorms in several parts of Odisha, where the administration has repeatedly advised people to remain indoors and avoid using electronic devices in open areas during lightning activity.