The extreme weather conditions in Odisha have left 12 people dead and 14 injured with horrific 61,000 lightening strikes occurring in the state for successive two hours.
The weathermen have sounded caution for the state with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a warning of extreme weather conditions in the state till September 7, reported TOI.
The report also said a cyclonic circulation active over the Bay of Bengal may intensify into a low-pressure area in the next 48 hours and under its influence, widespread rain is likely to occur across Odisha.
The intensity of rain is likely to increase later in the week, the report quoted an IMD bulletin.
“Yellow warning for heavy rainfall has been issued in most districts till September 7,” the IMD bulletin quoted in the report said.
The report four of the killed people in Saturday’s lightning strikes were from Khurda district, two from Balangir and one each from Angul, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur and Puri, the SRC said.
The report also stated about loss of domestic animals in the state with eight cattle also killed as lightning struck Gajapati and Kandhamal districts.
The report quoting officials said ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh will be paid to each of the bereaved families.
The report quoting weather scientists said these “unusual and extreme lightning activities occur when the monsoon returns to normalcy after a long break”.
“Collision of cold and warm air masses creates the perfect conditions for such unprecedented lightning events”, the report quoted weather scientists as having said.
