Bhubaneswar: The regional centre of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday forecast thunder storm and lightning warning for as many as 27 districts in Odisha.
As per the IMD bulletin, the warning has been issued for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapra, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Ganjam, Angul and Gajapati.
Latest doppler weather radar and satellite images indicate that thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rainfall is likely to occur at these places.
The alert would remain in effect from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm today. People in these districts have been advised to take shelter in nearby buildings or other safety locations.
Heavy rainfall is also likely to occur in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Ganjam in the next 48 hours due to cyclonic circulation over Bay of Bengal, predicted the IMD.
Continuous heavy rainfall in north Odisha river catchments may occur during September 2-5 due to formation similar cyclonic circulation on September 1 that may last till September 5, it added.