What began as an ordinary day turned into a night-like spectacle as Nor’wester storms swept across Odisha, plunging the state capital and nearby cities into sudden darkness.
The sky over Bhubaneswar and Cuttack turned dramatically grey as thick clouds gathered, drenching the region in intense rainfall.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Dhenkanal, Khurda, and Cuttack, warning of continued storm activity.
The Bhubaneswar Regional Meteorological Centre has issued a yellow alert across 15 districts, warning residents of the expected impact of Kalbaisakhi. The districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Bhadrak are particularly at risk of experiencing intense storms, with forecasts predicting significant rainfall, lightning, and potential hailstorms. Particularly, Balasore and Mayurbhanj could face heavy rainfall alongside lightning, with wind speeds reaching up to 50 to 60 km/h in certain areas.
Some areas experienced heavy downpours with thunder and lightning, while others reported light, persistent showers. The twin cities remained largely under cloud cover, and visibility dropped significantly in certain pockets.
The IMD has predicted gusty winds ranging from 40 to 50 km/h to continue over the next three hours, accompanied by thunderclaps and intermittent rainfall.
“Thunderstorms are likely to persist in several parts of Odisha, particularly in and around the capital region,” said the weather department in its bulletin.
The atmospheric drama, brought on by Nor’wester conditions, left many residents caught off guard, some soaked to the bone as the skies unleashed their fury.
