5000 Lightning Strikes In 30 Minutes, 5 Killed In Bhadrak!

Bhubaneswar: Under the influence of western disturbance, different parts of Odisha have been witnessing rains and thunderstorms.

According to Umasankar Das of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD’s) Regional Centre here, Basudevpur area of Bhadrak district witnessed as many as 5,000 lightning strikes within 30 minutes on Wednesday. Five people are stated to have been killed in this event.

Meteorologist Umashankar Das of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre said in a tweet that more than 5000 lightning strikes occurred in Basudevpur area of Bhadrak in just 30 minutes.

“More than 5000 lightning strikes today just in 30minutes near the #Basudevpur of #Bhadrak, Its beyond your imagination the vulnerability associated with thunderclouds & how fatal it could be!!!,” Das tweeted.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall (7cm to 11cm) at one or two places in Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Cuttack, and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha on March 31.

The state is likely to witness thunderstorm activity with lightning, hail and gusty wind and accordingly yellow and orange warnings have been issued till April 2 morning.