Sundargarh: Two women were killed, and more than 20 others were injured after lightning struck a group of workers in the Balishankara area under Talsara police station in Sundargarh district on Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Champa Tirkey and Susheela Tirkey.

According to reports, the workers had come from Chhattisgarh and were engaged in paddy transplantation work at Bhatipada in Balishankara.

The incident took place at around 1:30 pm when rain and thunderstorms lashed the area. The workers were working in a field when lightning suddenly struck them.

Two women labourers died on the spot following the lightning strike. More than 20 other workers sustained injuries in the incident.

The injured workers were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.