BHUBANESWAR: Lightning caused mayhem in Odisha claiming 30 lives and leaving many injured. Twelve persons died in lightning on Monday afternoon while 18 persons reportedly died due to lightning incidents across the state on Sunday evening.
The Meteorology Department on Sunday issued warning of thunderstorm with lightning in Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Kendrapada districts between 12 noon and 5 pm on Monday. People in these districts were advised to take shelter in nearby building or other safety locations during rain. Such kind of weather condition will continue till August 3, IMD forecast said.
“High levels of humidity, moisture and high temperature forming convective clouds are causing such kind of weather conditions. Besides, rain due to trough lines over the state is causing rain and thundershowers in several parts of the state. Such weather conditions will continue till August 3,” said Sarat Chandra Sahu, director of IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre.
Sahu said, warning for such extreme weather conditions can be given at least two to three hours before depending on the cloud formation pattern. “On the basis of Doppler radar we could give forecast at least two to three hours before such calamity,” Sahu said.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief on the death of 18 persons in lightning in different parts of the state on Sunday and announced ex-gratia of Rs four lakh each for the next of the kin of the deceased.
-By OdishaAge
