Bhubaneswar, March 26: Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, experienced an abrupt and intense weather change as a powerful Nor’wester (Kalbaisakhi) swept across the region on Thursday evening, causing heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and hailstorms.
Reports indicate that dark clouds rapidly formed over the city, quickly turning the day into near darkness. Intense rainfall followed, along with hailstones in several areas. The sudden weather shift led to significant disruptions in daily life, with winds gusting up to 30-40 km/h and rainfall affecting traffic and outdoor activities.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the storm activity to a trough line stretching from West Bengal to Chhattisgarh, creating conditions conducive to thunderstorms and rainfall across Odisha.
The IMD has issued a Yellow Warning for at least eight districts, alerting residents about potential thunderstorms, lightning, and moderate to heavy rainfall. Wind speeds during the storm could reach up to 50 km/h, with the possibility of tree falls, power outages, and minor structural damage.
Weather officials had specifically warned that districts such as Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, and Bhadrak in the northern and coastal parts of the state are likely to see light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Additionally, southern districts like Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, and Koraput are also under alert for similar weather conditions.
