Bhubaneswar, May 16: A powerful Nor’wester storm swept through parts of Odisha on Saturday, leaving Kalahandi and Koraput districts reeling from its impact. Strong winds and heavy rainfall disrupted daily life, uprooted trees, and affected road and power infrastructure.

In Kalahandi, Bhawanipatna bore the brunt of the storm. Intense gusts and heavy downpours caused widespread inconvenience, with numerous trees uprooted across the town, blocking roads and hampering movement. In a significant incident, a fallen tree struck an electricity transformer, leading to power outages in several areas. Authorities were engaged in restoring electricity as residents dealt with the sudden disruption.

Koraput district, particularly the Lamtaput area, also witnessed substantial damage. Near Guneipada village, strong winds uprooted a large tree that fell across the main road, halting traffic on the vital Lamtaput–Machkund route and leaving vehicles stranded on both sides. Local officials quickly initiated clearance operations to reopen the road and resume normal traffic flow.

While the storm offered temporary relief from the ongoing heatwave, it caused considerable damage to infrastructure and disrupted normal life in the affected regions.