Lightning Strike Damages Pinnacle of Historic Chandi Mandir in Cuttack

Cuttack: The pinnacle (Dadhinauti) of the historic Chandi Mandir in Cuttack was damaged after a lightning strike hit the shrine during a thunderstorm on Sunday afternoon, temple authorities said. No injuries were reported in the incident.

According to reports, the lightning struck the temple around 4.30 pm as gusty winds and rain lashed the city. The impact damaged a portion of the Dadhinauti, the ornamental crown-like structure atop the temple, causing a stone piece and an iron clamp to break off and fall from the pinnacle.

The incident triggered panic among devotees and locals present near the shrine at the time.

“The Dadhinauti of the temple was damaged due to the lightning strike. A piece of stone and an iron clamp fell off the structure. Fortunately, no one was injured,” a priest of the temple said.

He added that such an incident had not been witnessed at the shrine in recent memory, saying, “We have never seen anything like this in the last several years.”