Rourkela (Odisha), Jun 10 (PTI) Three spectators of a hockey math were killed and two others were injured when lightning struck a tree shortly after the match was abandoned due to rains in Sundargarh district today, police said.

The five were among hundreds of people who had gathered to watch the local hockey match at Sagbahal under Talsara police station area.

The match was half way through when it started to rain and it was called off.

Several people, including the five victims, took shelter under a banyan tree that was struck by lightning, police said.

While three persons, including two brothers, were declared brought dead at hospital, two others were admitted there in a serious condition, police said.

The hockey match between a local team and another from outside was part of a tournament popular among the local tribal community.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)