Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘Orange’ alert for several districts in Odisha, warning of moderate to intense rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning over the next three hours. The nowcast warning, issued at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, predicts heavy downpours in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts. The weather agency has cautioned residents about potential waterlogging in low-lying areas, poor visibility, and traffic disruptions in urban areas. The IMD has advised people to avoid movement in affected regions and make necessary arrangements to drain excess water to prevent flooding. The ‘Orange’ alert signifies that authorities and residents should be prepared for severe weather conditions. In addition, a ‘Yellow’ alert has been issued for several other districts, including Angul, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Khordha (including Bhubaneswar city), Cuttack (including Cuttack city), Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri. These areas are likely to experience light to moderate rain or thunderstorms accompanied by lightning over the next three hours. The IMD has urged residents to stay updated on the weather and move to safer places to protect themselves from lightning strikes.
