Unseasonal rain hits normal life in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Mar 20  Incessant and widespread unseasonal rains, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and hail, lashed Odisha for second day on Wednesday, disrupting normal life to some extent in certain parts of the state besides bringing down the day temperatures considerably in many parts of the state.
The IMD has predicted that moderate thunderstorm activity with lightning and heavy rainfall will occur over several districts of Odisha during next 24 hours.
MET sources said a western disturbance, now seen as a cyclonic circulation, lies over Jharkhand and
neighborhood at 3.1 km above mean sea level, with a trough aloft running from northeast Uttar Pradesh to east Vidarbha at 6 km above mean sea level.
These meteorological conditions, it said, are becoming favourable for moderate thunderstorm activity with lightning and fairly widespread, with isolated heavy rainfall activity over a few coastal districts of Odisha during next 24 hours.
The IMD has already issued Yellow and Orange warnings to as many as 20 of the 30 districts in the state, where thunderstorms with lightning are very likely to occur at one or two places.
The collectors of the districts under yellow and orange warnings were advised to keep the administrative machinery ready to face any eventuality.
People have also been advised to keep watch on the weather and take safe shelter during thunderstorm activity to protect themselves from lightning.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has asked the district collectors to submit a report on any damage occurred due to thunderstorms, whirlwinds, hailstorms, or lightning.
As per available records, the highest rainfall of 72.2 mm was recorded in past 24 hours from Gondia, followed by Bhuban (72 mm), both in Dhenkanal district. Athamalik at Angul recorded 68 mm of rainfall, while Kantamal in Boudh reported 66.2 mm of rainfall.
Heavy rainfall is likely to continue at one or two places in Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh and Gajapati districts in Odisha till Thursday morning, according to IMD sources.
The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 29.4 and 25.5 degrees Celsius, respectively, which was 3.7 and 7.2 degrees below normal, respectively.
However, the day temperatures are likely to rise by 2 to 6 degrees Celsius after next 24 hours, MET sources said.