Odisha will continue to receive rainfall for four more days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a heavy rainfall alert for 14 districts in Odisha.
As per the IMD, a yellow warning for rain and thunderstorm accompanied by lightning at various places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Cuttack districts. These districts are likely to experience light to moderate rain during the 48 hours.
Yesterday, various places of the state including capital city of Bhubaneswar, Khordha, Cuttack, Balasore, and Balangir received hailstorm along with rain. A hailstone weighing 1 kilogram was reportedly seen in Dharmasala block of Jajpur district.
Gusty winds will blow at a speed of 50 kmph to 60 kmph. However, the effect of the westerly winds will decrease from today. Most of the districts of south and north Odisha, including coastal areas of the state are likely to receive light to moderate rains. The day temperature is likely to rise from Wednesday and remain at 3°C to 4°C above normal.
Various places of the state, including the capital city of Bhubaneswar, Khurdha, Cuttack, Balasore, and Bolangir, experienced hailstorms along with rain on Monday.
More rain will likely lash Odisha due to the western disturbance from upcoming March 24, 2023. The rain will remain in efect from 24th to 28th March.
Meanwhile, rain and thundershowers accompanied by hailstorms in some places ravaged the standing crops in Bhadrak, Rayada and Kalahandi districts. The damage was the maximum in the Kashipur block of Rayagada where vegetable crops like corn, tomato, cauliflower, cabbage, coriander etc. The crops were ready for harvesting, but the Nor’wester dealt a heavy blow to the aspirations of the farmers.
The plight of farmers in the Kokasara block of Kalahandi district is similar to those in Kashipur as hailstorms caused extensive damage to the crops here. Onion farmers are the worst affected as they fear that their produces have started rotting in the wet soil.
