At least 10 people were killed in lightning strikes in six districts of Odisha, an official from the office of the special relief commissioner said. Khurda district had the highest number of casualties, with four people losing their lives, followed by Bolangir with two deaths and one each in Angul, Boudh, Jagatsinghpur and Dhenkanal.
Additionally, three people in Khurda were injured in lightning strikes that occurred on Saturday. The coastal region of Odisha, including the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, experienced heavy rainfall and lightning strikes on X.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 126 mm and 95.8 mm of rainfall respectively during a 90-minute spell in the afternoon, along with 36,597 CC (cloud to cloud) lightning and 25,753 CG (cloud to ground) lightning. The Met department has advised people to take shelter in safe places during thunderstorm activity.
A cyclonic circulation currently lies over the northeast Bay of Bengal, while another is likely to form over the north of the Bay of Bengal around September 3, according to H R Biswas, director of the Regional Meteorological Centre. This cyclonic circulation and a possible low-pressure area will cause heavy rainfall in the state over the next three to four days, Biswas said.
