Odisha continues to reel under the impact of Kalbaisakhi as thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds swept across several parts of the state, providing relief from the prevailing heatwave but causing widespread disruptions.
Since Thursday, interior and southern districts like Koraput and Sundargarh experienced intermittent heavy rains, which later spread across the state. The moisture-laden winds brought the much-needed cool spell, easing the intense heatwave conditions.
However, the severe weather also disrupted daily life in many regions. On Saturday evening, strong thunderstorms lashed Mohana in Gajapati district and nearby areas. Powerful winds uprooted trees, disrupted traffic, and triggered power outages, throwing normal life out of gear.
A major stretch of National Highway 326 was blocked by fallen trees due to the storm. The Mohana Fire Department quickly responded and cleared the road, restoring traffic movement.
In a separate incident on Friday, Bangriposi in Mayurbhanj district witnessed intense hailstorms that left over 50 people injured. Among them, 20 critically injured victims with head and limb injuries were shifted to Baripada Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
According to the latest forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Kalbaisakhi’s impact is likely to continue until Sunday. However, the intensity of rainfall is expected to decrease starting today.
The IMD’s Bhubaneswar office further predicted that from March 24 onwards, rainfall will reduce significantly, and the maximum temperature will gradually rise across Odisha.
