Bhubaneswar, June 15 -- Protest erupted at Tigiria Chhak on the Athagarh-Narsinghpur road in Cuttack after emergency medical services allegedly refused to transport the bodies of two farmers who were killed in a lightning strike.

Local residents were reportedly forced to carry the half-burnt bodies on their shoulders for eight kilometres from Bishnupur village to reach the hospital. The agitation was subsequently called off following administrative intervention, financial compensation, and the assurance of an official inquiry into the conduct of the ambulance operators.

The incident occurred on Sunday when a Kalbaisakhi storm struck the region. Two farmers, identified as Naba Kishore Rout and Mandardhar Pati, had sought refuge inside a ...