Hailstorm and heavy rain lash Odisha; IMD issues yellow warning

Several parts of Odisha were battered by heavy rain accompanied by hailstorms and gusty winds on Monday, disrupting normal life and damaging crops in some areas.

Districts including Koraput, Bargarh, and Subarnapur witnessed intense rainfall coupled with hailstones. In many places, strong winds were followed by prolonged spells of rain and hail, triggering panic among residents.

In the Koraput district, heavy rainfall was reported in Potangi, Gangarajpur, and Sunki after dark clouds gathered suddenly, leading to torrential showers. Similarly, the Binika area of Subarnapur district experienced a hailstorm along with heavy rain and gusty winds. Localities such as Singhijuba, Jampali, Balaranga, Dendupadar, Sarguna, Sindurpur, and Khairmal reported continuous rainfall following sudden cloud formation.

The unseasonal weather has adversely affected standing crops in certain pockets, raising concerns among farmers about potential losses.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow Warning for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, rain, and gusty winds across the state for two days starting Tuesday. As many as 18 districts—Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Ganjam, Gajapati, and Bargarh—have been placed under the Yellow Warning.

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The weather department has cautioned residents about possible lightning strikes and strong surface winds in these districts and has advised people to remain alert and take necessary precautions.