Bhubaneswar: Amid the ongoing nor’wester spell in Odisha, the office of Special Relief Commissioner on Monday warned of heavy rain along with severe thunderstorms, lightning with maximum surface wind speed 62–87 kmph and hail in 11 districts till 7 pm.
Red warning has been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Gajapati, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Sambalpur and Sonepur.
The SCR has warned of water-logging or flooding in low lying areas and river banks. Localised disruption to municipal services (water, electricity, etc) and major disruption of traffic flow due to heavy rain. Local trains may also be affected and there is a possibility of danger to old buildings and unmaintained structures. It further stated that the strong wind may damage thatched huts and paddy crops. Minor damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of branches is also likely.
Thunderstorms with hail may also cause major damage to kutcha structures and tin or asbestos roofed houses and car Fruit, vegetable and field crops at maturity stages are highly prone to damage. People have been advised to move to safe places to protect themselves from lightning.
Similarly, orange alert has been sounded for 12 districts and yellow warning for five. Moderate rain along with moderate thunderstorms with wind speed between 41–61 kmph may occur in Angul, Boudh, Balangir, Deogarh, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Malkangiri, Sundargarh, Kandhamal, Koraput, Keonjhar and Rayagada,
Bhadrak, Khurda, Nuapada and Nabarangour districts are likely to experience light rain, light thunderstorms with wind speed over 40kmph.
