The morning in the Twin Cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar began with stormy conditions, with rainfall persisting into Wednesday. Alongside the Twin Cities, several other districts including Khordha, Nayagarh, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Ganjam, and Kandhamal experienced showers. The heavy downpour, accompanied by strong winds, swept across various parts of Odisha, impacting the state capital as well, influenced by the ‘Kalabaisakhi’ (Norwester) phenomenon.
The storm led to the uprooting of trees in Nuapada district, resulting in significant damage. The disruption caused the cancellation of the Komna Lok Mahotsav in Nuapada, as 40 stalls and the event’s stage collapsed due to the Norwester’s impact. Tragically, a young individual lost their life in Jhanjimunda village under Nuapada Sadar police station, struck by lightning while working at a brick kiln.
In Dhenkanal town, heavy rains accompanied by powerful winds caused extensive damage, particularly to large trees. Responding to the situation, fire brigade personnel swiftly arrived on the scene to cut down and remove the fallen trees.
Berhampur and other towns in Ganjam district experienced rainfall starting from midnight, adding to the inclement weather conditions.
The Meteorological Department has issued an orange warning for lightning, thunderstorms, and rain in nine districts today, namely Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Balangir, Subarnapur, and Boudh.