Bhubaneswar: The regional centre of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Friday sounded thunderstorm and lightning alert for 18 districts of the state.
The districts likely to be affected are Khurda including Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack including Cuttack town, Jagatsinghpur, Angul, Balasore, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, Sonepur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, and Boudh.
“Latest doppler weather radar and satellite imageries indicate that thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and moderate rainfall likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khurda including Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack including Cuttack town, Jagatsinghpur, Angul, Balasore, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, Sonepur and Boudh between 1.45 pm and 5.45 pm,” the MeT office said.
The weatherman also cautioned people in these districts to stay indoors and take shelter in buildings and other safe locations as a precautionary measure.
