Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘Orange’ warning for several districts in Odisha, predicting moderate to heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph over the next three hours.
The alert, issued by the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar at 3:15 PM, also cautioned about possible hailstorms in affected areas.
The districts likely to be impacted include Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Cuttack (including Cuttack city), and Khordha (including Bhubaneswar city).
The IMD has warned of potential waterlogging in low-lying areas, reduced visibility, and traffic disruptions in urban zones. Residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and ensure proper drainage of excess water to mitigate flooding risks.
In addition, a ‘Yellow’ warning has been issued for Kalahandi, Puri, and Jagatsingpur districts, where light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are expected within the next three hours. The IMD has urged people in these areas to stay vigilant, monitor weather updates, and move to safer locations to avoid lightning strikes.
The weather agency has emphasized the need for precautionary measures, particularly in rural and urban areas prone to waterlogging and traffic snarls.
