Bhubaneswar: The Odisha capital witnessed a sudden heavy downpour accompanied by intense thunderstorm and lightning on Tuesday afternoon.
It came amid a warning of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorm activity and lightning for seven districts in Odisha, including Bhubaneswar.
According to the weather agency, Sundaragada, Rayagada, Khordha, Jajopur, Dhenkanal, Sonpur and Nayagada are likely to experience inclement weather over the next three hours till around 7 pm. People in these districts have been advised to closely monitor changing weather conditions and plan outdoor activities accordingly to ensure personal safety. People are urged to take shelter in sturdy structures during lightning and thunder.
In its midday bulletin, the IMD had predicted a decrease in the rainfall activity in the state for two days. While heavy rain may continue at one or two place in the districts of Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada and Sambalpur on August 25, the intensity of rainfall is expected to drop sharply the following day, with no weather warnings issued and light to moderate rainfall expected at only a few places.
On August 27, isolated heavy rain may resume in Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj, alongside thunderstorms and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) in coastal and northern districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.