Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 13: The southwest monsoon has ultimately hit Orissa bringing cheer to all and sundry ahead of expectations Saturday, confirmed Bhubaneswar Meteorological Department sources here.
“The Southwest monsoon has set in over south Orissa. It has covered the whole of Malkangiri and parts of adjoining Koraput district. The northern limit of monsoon passed through Valsad, Kalingapatnam, Darjeeling, Krishnanagar, Aurangabad, Chandrapur and Jagdalpur,” stated a Met bulletin here.
A few places in the state including Bhubaneswar received scattered rainfall in the past 24 hours. Dhenkanal received the highest rainfall of 19mm followed by Bhubaneswar 14mm and Koraput 4.8mm.
The moderate downpour in the city Saturday brought life back to rejuvenation with people welcoming the rain with cheers. “The summer was too harsh this season in the city. I had never seen such searing condition and I do not wish to experience the heatwave again in the city. Today’s rain certainly brought us great relief,” said Lisi Pathy, a resident of Bhimtangi.
Met director Sarat Chandra Sahu said the monsoon has hit the state as per predictions. “The cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal has helped trigger moderate to heavy rainfall across the state. The rainfall activity will continue over most parts of the state in the coming days,” assured Sahu.
Talking to Orissa POST, the weatherman said the rainfall activity will take an intensive turn from June 16 when heavy to very heavy downpour could occur over southern and interior pockets. The trend would continue till June 19, he added.
Meanwhile, the rain also brought some bad news as thunderbolts have reportedly claimed at least seven lives in the state of which two deaths were reported from Kuchinda area in Sambalpur district, three from Ganjam and two in Bargarh districts.
However, Special Relief Commissioner is yet to confirm the deaths due to lightning. A report from Berhampur said the thunderbolts struck three labourers engaged in road construction work at Purushottampur. They had taken shelter under a tree when rain lashed the area when lightning struck them and they died on the spot.
A report from Bamra said two persons died and two others were injured after lightning struck in Taladihi village in Sambalpur district Saturday. The deceased were identified as Jugal Tapno (35) of Mahipani under Bargaon police limits in Sundargarh district and Adam Chhauria (23) of Govindapur in Sambalpur. The incident occurred when Jugal, who had come to a relative’s house, was standing under a tree with three others when thunderstorm lashed the area. Jugal and Binay died on the spot while Binay Sanga (35) and Dubia Lugun sustained injuries.
The weather over the capital city and its neighbourhood would remain cloudy with rain or thundershower in the next 24 hours. The maximum temperature will be confined to 33° Celsius Sunday.