Three women were killed and another person critically injured when a tree uprooted and fell on them during a Kalbaisakhi storm at a weekly market in Peda Baaili, located on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, on Monday afternoon.

The victims have been identified as Seetama Khara, 40, and Tilatama Khara, 30, both from Jarai village in the Panthlung panchayat of Nandapur block in Koraput district, along with Mani Pampa from Panthlung village. Officials reported that strong winds and heavy rain struck the area, causing a large tree in the crowded market to collapse, trapping several individuals beneath it.

Seetama and Tilatama died instantly due to the tree’s impact. Mani Pampa and Ramchandra Pampa suffered severe injuries and were transported to the Munchimput primary health center in Andhra Pradesh for treatment. Unfortunately, Mani succumbed to her injuries while receiving care.

Emergency services from Munchimput quickly arrived at the scene to remove the fallen tree and recover the bodies, which were then sent to a local health facility for post-mortem examinations.

Pottangi MLA Rama Chandra Kadam visited the site to express his condolences to the families affected and engaged with Andhra Pradesh officials to ensure the injured received prompt medical attention. He also called on the Koraput district administration to provide Red Cross assistance to the victims’ families.

Nandapur Block Development Officer and acting tehsildar Durga Prasad Dora informed District Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan about the incident, stating that further actions would follow as directed. Local sarpanch Pooja Khil and social worker Akash Khil, along with the families of the deceased, are in discussions with Andhra Pradesh officials and the market committee to seek compensation.