Met issues lightning alert for 19 districts of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: While heavy rains continue to lash most parts of Odisha due to monsoon winds and low pressure in Bay of Bengal, the regional office of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued thunderstorm and lightning warning in 19 districts of Odisha on Tuesday.

The warning has been issued for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapra, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Angul, Khurda, Puri, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur.

The alert would remain in effect till 5:30 pm today. People in these districts have been advised to take shelter in nearby buildings or other safety locations.

It has also forecast heavy rainfall in various places of the State in the next 24 hours. Sea condition is likely to be rough to very rough along and off Odisha coast, the MeT office said, asking fishermen to be cautious while venturing into sea.

Gusty surface wind with speed reaching 55 kmph is likely to prevail along and off Odisha coast.

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After the arrival of monsoon the maximum amount of rainfall – 40 percent – has been recorded in Malkangiri. Similarly, minimum amount of rainfall has been recorded at Nuapada, Bolangir and Dhenkanal.

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