Hailstones, thunderstorm wreck havoc in Odisha districts

Balasore: Heavy rain accompanied by hailstones this afternoon lashed several parts of Odisha causing considerable damage to property.

As per reports, hailstones damaged asbestos roof of the houses in Remuna in Balasore district. Besides, several villages also bore the brunt of nature’s fury in Badasahi block of Mayurbhanj district. Hailstones caused damage to asbestos roof of several houses in the tribal district.

People in Balasore district alleged that the hailstones have damaged Rabi crops.

At least two persons were injured in lightning strike in Nayagarh district. While an old man died on the spot, his grandson sustained burn injuries in the lightning strike at Sarapada village under Itamati police limits in the district.

“Thunderstorm accompanied with hail and gusty surface wind speed reaching 50 to 60 kmph likely to occur over the districts of Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar and Deogarh between 2.30 pm and 6.30 pm,” a bulletin of the meteorological centre had said.

The nor’wester rains are expected to bring relief to people from scorching summer for a few days as it is likely to pull the mercury down by several notches.