IMD issues lightning warning for 16 districts

Bhubaneswar: The regional centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar has issued lightning warning for 16 districts of Odisha till 7:15 PM today.

The alert has been sounded for Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Boudh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts till 7:15 PM.

People in these areas have been advised to stay indoors and take shelter in nearby buildings and other safe locations.

District Collectors of respective districts, the Special Relief Commissioner, Managing Director of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority and all Revenue Divisional Commissioners have also been alerted by the IMD, said sources.

Also Read: Odisha Recorded 280 Lightning Deaths In Last Five Months: SRC

More than 280 people, including 27 children, have been killed due to lightning since April this year. Ganjam and Mayurbhanj top the list with over 30 deaths in each district.