On Saturday, Odisha had a record 61,000 lightning strikes in less than two hours, leaving 12 people dead and 14 injured, according to Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu. The India Meteorology Department (IMD) has warned of severe weather conditions in the state through September 7, thus these strikes could possibly be there till then.
"Ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh will be paid to each of the bereaved families," Sahu added.
Within the following 48 hours, a cyclonic circulation that is currently over the Bay of Bengal could become a low-pressure region, which would likely bring extensive rain to Odisha.
According to an IMD bulletin, the rain's intensity is predicted to increase later in the week. The IMD added, "Yellow warning for heavy rainfall has been issued in most districts till September 7."
According to the SRC, one person each from Angul, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri, as well as two from Balangir and four from Khurda district died in Saturday's lightning strikes. "Besides, eight cattle were also killed as lightning struck Gajapati and Kandhamal districts," the SRC added.
These unique and severe lightning events, according to meteorologists, take place when the monsoon returns to its normal trajectory after a long pause. They added that the ideal circumstances for such extreme lightning flashes are created when cold and warm air masses collide.
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