Bhubaneswar: Thunderstorm coupled with squall, rain and lightning of varied intensity is likely to hit at least 26 districts of Odisha on Saturday evening, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a nowcast warning.
The weather agency issued a red warning for Angul district in a message released at 4 pm. Severe thunderstorm accompanied by squall wind speed reaching 60 – 70 kmph, lightning, and moderate to intense spell of rain may affect some parts of Angul within next two hours, it said.
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.
People are advised to take shelter in pukka structures and avoid taking shelter under trees. Farming operations is to be temporarily suspended during occurrence of event. Also move away from electric poles and wires.
Similarly, an orange warning of moderate thunderstorm with lightning and moderate rain with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph was issued for Boudh, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Balangir, Sonepur, Rayagada, Gajapati and Dhenkanal districts within next two to three hours.
Under its impact minor damage to loose / unsecured structures, Minor damage to Banana trees. Some Damage to standing crops may occur. People are advised to keep a watch on the weather for worsening conditions and be ready to move to safer places accordingly.
The IMD issued a yellow warning for Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Jajpur, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Koraput, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts within next two to three hours. People are advised to keep a watch on the weather and accordingly move to safer places to protect from lightning strike.
