- By Shubham Bajpai
- Sun, 15 Mar 2026 08:53 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
At least one person died while over a dozen have been injured after Kalbaisakhi or Nor'westers hit Odisha's Mayurbhanj district on Sunday afternoon.
The strong winds and dust storm have caused widespread devastation and disrupted normal life, as over 70 houses have been completely or partially destroyed.
According to eyewitnesses, cited in a report by Jagran.com, the weather suddenly changed in the afternoon and within a few minutes, strong winds, accompanied by a thunderstorm, swept the region.
The storm disrupted the traffic for hours, downed power poles, plunging many areas into darkness. The supply of drinking water was also disrupted.
Upon receiving information about the incident, teams from the district administration, police, and fire department arrived at the scene and began relief and rescue operations. The injured were immediately admitted to nearby community health centres and the district hospital.
Some of the seriously injured have been referred to higher medical institutions for better treatment. The administration has assured the families of the deceased that they will receive financial assistance as per the regulations.
IMD issues a warning
A day earlier, the India Meteorological Department issued a warning of the possibility of thunderstorms, strong winds and localised tornadoes in some districts of northern Odisha.
The department had advised people to stay out of open spaces, avoid sheltering in weak structures, and take precautions against lightning strikes. However, the sudden, intense tornado, which struck many villagers, caught them in its grip of the tornado.
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The weather department has issued an orange alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls in Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar and Rayagarha on March 16.
Besides, a yellow alert has been sounded for 15 districts. The weather department has also issued a warning for a hailstorm in the state as weather conditions are likely to remain concerning for the next few day.