Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunderstorm activity with lightning, gusty surface winds, and hail over several districts in Odisha from March 19 to 23. The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has alerted the district Collectors to keep administrative machinery ready to face any eventuality.
People are advised to keep watch on weather and take safe shelter during thunderstorm activity to protect themselves from lightning. Farmers are advised to use hail nets to protect vegetables and crops from hail.
According to the IMD, several districts in Odisha can expect thunderstorms and other severe weather conditions. For March 19-20, a yellow warning has been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, and Mayurbhanj districts, with thunderstorms and gusty winds likely.
For March 20-21, an orange warning has been issued for Bhadrak, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Sundargarh districts, with thunderstorms, hail, and gusty winds likely. A yellow warning has also been issued for Sambalpur, Deogarh, Boudh, Angul, and Jajpur districts.
The IMD has also predicted severe weather conditions for March 21-22, with an orange warning issued for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, and Jharsuguda districts. A yellow warning has been issued for several other districts, including Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Nayagarh, Boudh, Bolangir, Nuapada, and Sonepur.
For March 22-23, an orange warning has been issued for Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Khurda, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Balasore districts, with thunderstorms, hail, and gusty winds likely. A yellow warning has been issued for Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Ganjam, and Gajapati districts.
For March 23-24, a yellow warning has been issued for several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Dhenkanal.