A devastating lightning strike during Kala Baisakhi has claimed three lives in Pardiguda village, Koraput district. The victims, including a grandmother, granddaughter, and another woman, died while working in the field. Several others were injured and admitted to the hospital.
The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Koraput, Cuttack, Khordha, Nayagarh, Jajpur, Balasore, and Ganjam districts, warning of heavy rainfall, lightning, and thunderstorms with winds reaching 60-70 kmph in the next 2 hours.
The Kal Baisakhi storm has caused significant disruption in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, uprooting trees, snapping electric wires, and leading to power outages. Waterlogging has been reported in low-lying areas, and some damage to standing crops and trees is expected.
The IMD has advised people to take shelter in sturdy structures, avoid trees, and suspend farming activities temporarily. Residents are also warned to stay away from electric poles and wires.
Similar thunderstorm warnings have been issued for other districts, including Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Angul, and Boudh.