Bhubaneswar: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) today predicted heavy rainfall and lightning in 16 districts of Odisha in the next 24 hours.
The districts likely to be hit by thunderstorm and lightning include Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Bolangir.
IMD has advised people in these 16 districts to take shelter in nearby buildings or other safer locations.
The Meteorological Centre also said heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places in north Odisha during the next 24 hours, while many parts of the State are likely to receive moderate rains.
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Meanwhile, sources in the IMD mentioned that rainfall has already lashed several places in the state with heavy rainfall in some places of north interior Odisha. Areas in Sundargarh, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Gajapati, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Nabarangpur and Boudh have received heavy rainfall in the last few days, it said.