Bhubaneswar, Mar 28: Odisha witnessed the fury of Kalbaisakhi (Nor’wester) storms on Friday, with several districts reporting heavy rain, strong winds, and damage to property.

The storm wreaked havoc in Khordha, Puri, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj districts. In Mayurbhanj’s Kuliana area, a tragic incident occurred when a tree branch fell, killing a young man named Ram Das Hansda.

In Khordha’s Tangi block, the storm raged for nearly three hours, uprooting trees and disrupting traffic. The gusty winds caused widespread damage, leaving roads blocked and residents struggling with power outages.

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The Regional Meteorological Department has issued a yellow warning for Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj districts. Heavy rain accompanied by lightning and wind speeds of 30-40 kmph is expected. In Mayurbhanj, winds may reach 50-60 kmph, while northern Odisha could experience gusts of 40-50 kmph. Keonjhar and Sundargarh are also likely to receive light to moderate rainfall.

Forecasts suggest thunderstorms with rain in Mayurbhanj, Koraput, and Malkangiri on March 29. On March 30, Kalbaisakhi storms are expected in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, and Malkangiri, with wind speeds of 30-40 kmph and lightning activity. Rainfall with thunderstorms is also predicted across northern and southern Odisha on March 31, April 1, and April 2.

Meanwhile, western Odisha is reeling under intense heat. Titilagarh recorded the highest temperature at 39.5°C, followed closely by Sambalpur at 39.3°C. Jharsuguda, Hirakud, Sonepur, and Bhawanipatna registered 39°C, while Angul, Rourkela, Nabarangpur, and Talcher crossed 38°C. Bhubaneswar, Balangir, Nuapada, Chandbali, Bhadrak, Baripada, and Sundargarh reported maximum temperatures above 37°C.