IMD Issues Red Alert for Severe Thunderstorm in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a Red alert for several districts in Odisha, forecasting a severe thunderstorm accompanied by hail and gusty winds reaching speeds of 60–70 kmph in the next two hours.

According to the IMD’s latest bulletin, districts likely to be affected include Koraput, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Jajpur, Balasore, and Ganjam. The department has warned that the storm may cause damage to thatched houses, power and communication lines, and standing crops in these areas.

The IMD has urged residents in the alert zones to take shelter in permanent structures and avoid standing under trees. Farming activities should be temporarily suspended, and people are advised to stay away from electric poles and wires during the storm.

In addition to the Red alert areas, the IMD has also issued an Orange alert for moderate thunderstorms with lightning and wind speeds of 50–60 kmph in parts of Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Balangir, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Angul, and Boudh districts over the next two to three hours.

Citizens in the affected areas are advised to remain alert and follow safety instructions issued by local authorities to prevent any untoward incidents during the storm.