Parts Of Odisha Lashed By Heavy Downpour; Thunderstorm With Wind @60kmph Likely In 7 Dists In 3 Hrs

Bhubaneswar: Heavy downpour accompanied by thunderstorm pounded several parts of Odisha includiing state capital Bhubaneswar on Friday.

Normal life was disrupted for quite some time as everal low lying areas of the capital city were submerged with water following intense rainfall and squall this evening.

Vehicular movement was also affected and commuters took shelter at safe places as roads in low lying areas were inundated by rainwater, sources said.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Centre (IMD) issued warning about  moderate to severe thunderstorm accompanied with squall wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph, hail, lightning, moderate to intense spell of rain in some parts of districts of Nayagarh, Khurda, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jajpur in next three hours.

Under its impact damage to thatched huts, minor damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of branches, water logging in low lying area, some damage to standing crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards may occur, it said in a Nowcast warning.

People were advised to take shelter in pukka structures and avoid taking shelter under trees. Farming operations is to be temporarily suspended during occurrence of event. They were also advised to move away from electric poles and wires.

IMD also forecast moderate thunderstorm with hail, gusty wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph, lightning and light to moderate rain in some parts of Sonepur, Boudh and Kandhanal within next three hours.