As predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), several parts of Odisha experienced heavy rainfall on Saturday on the occasion of Utkal Dibasa. Heavy downpour accompanied by thunderstorm and gusty winds was experienced in several parts of the state including the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
The early morning showers caused considerable inconvenience to office goers as well as other commuters who were caught unaware at different places.
On Friday, the IMD’s Regional Centre in Bhubaneswar had issued an ‘Orange Warning’ for thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph in several parts of Odisha. The warning was issued for the districts of Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kandhamal, Nayagarh and Khordha.
The IMD had also issued heavy rainfall alert for the districts of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Cuttack. As per the IMD forest issued yesterday, light to moderate rain or thunderstorm is very likely to occur at many places over the districts of Coastal Odisha like Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput in the next 24 hours.
A ‘Yellow Warning’ for thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph was also issued for the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput.