Heavy rains bring respite from heat in city

Heavy rains on Monday lashed the State capital city bringing respite for the denizens from the earlier torrid hot and humid conditions. But the rains also threw normal life out of gear for hours.

Gusty wind accompanied by rains was also experienced in most parts of the State including the twin cities, Puri and several other places bringing down the soaring temperature by several degrees.

All of a sudden, the sky turned dark and rains poured in for several hours leaving major thoroughfares in the State capital waterlogged. Many people were seen stuck at different places waiting for the downpour to stop. Many commuters took shelter under the flyovers and at bus-stops and other safe places.

The weather conditions also affected flight operations at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here. At least two flights, Bangalore-Bhubaneswar Indigo and Hyderabad-Bhubaneswar AirAsia, had to be diverted mid air due to the adverse weather conditions, said the airport authorities.

Meanwhile, the bad weather claimed one life and left another injured at Ambapalas village under the Parjang police station in Dhenkanal district. In another incident, four houses were gutted in lightning strike at Gujabandha village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district.