Pipili: In a tragic mishap, an elderly man lost his life after a coconut tree collapsed during a sudden storm in Pipili in Odisha's Puri district on Friday night. The incident took place in Alisa village under Pipili block. The deceased has been identified as Jagannath Behera.

As per preliminary data, Behera had gone to attend a religious gathering in the village temple. The prasad sevan (religious offering) was underway when a sudden Kalbaisakhi storm struck the area, bringing strong winds that uprooted a nearby coconut tree.

Behera, who was reportedly having prasad at the time, got trapped under the fallen tree. Local residents immediately alerted emergency services. Fire personnel and an ambulance rushed to the spot and carried out a rescue operation. However, despite their efforts, Behera had already succumbed to his injuries by the time he was pulled out.

Kin demand compensation

Meanwhile, family members of the deceased have demanded compensation, alleging delays in rescue efforts. Authorities have taken note of the incident, and further investigation is underway. "My father was having prasad outside the temple when the tree fell on him. Fire services and ambulance reached but could not rescue him in time," Behera's son told mediapersons. "He was a nice man and this is a huge tragedy. The storm was sudden and everything happened in the blink of an eye," said another eyewitness.

The sudden turn of events has cast a shadow over the religious gathering, leaving the local community in shock.

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