13 die in lightning as skies open floodgates

BHUBANESWAR: In what was a day of grave natural disasters in the state, as many as 13 people in various parts died after being struck by lightning. Among the deceased, six people belong to different parts of Balasore district, five are from Mayurbhanj district and one each from Kendrapada and Khurda district.
This year the state has witnessed an astounding 156 lightning deaths by mid-July itself.It had seen 458 lightning deaths in 2017 and 398 deaths in 2016.

The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Bishnupada Sethi, on Friday asked district administrations to remain prepared to meet any possible flood or flood-like situation in view of the forecast of heavy rain from Saturday onwards.
"Adverse situation, if any, may be promptly reported to the state emergency operation centre in the office of the SRC," said Sethi here. Balimela in Malkangiri district remained cut-off from the district headquarters town with rain water overflowing on roads at MV-11, MV-37 and Korkunda. Road communication between Kalimela and Motu stopped entirely, with water of several canals flowing on to the roads. Kandhamal and Rayagada districts also witnessed heavy rainfall. The Vansadhara river flowed over danger levels at Gunupur in Rayagada district. The water levels of Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Baitarani were all on the rise at various places in the afternoon, after the heavy rain on the upper catchment areas of the rivers.
Tikabali in Kandhamal district recorded the highest - 140 mm - rainfall in the state. The other areas that received major rainfall include Malkangiri (90 mm), Panposh (70 mm), Jenapur and Barkote (60 mm each).
HR Biswas, director of India Meteorological Department (IMD), said the low pressure, likely to turn into depression would trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall at several coastal and interior districts in the state till Sunday.