Hailstorm rips through Cuttack, Capital hit too

CUTTACK/BHUBANESWAR: A hailstorm hit the Millennium City on Monday afternoon bringing relief from the sweltering weather. But it caused widespread damage uprooting trees and utility poles and snapping power connections in many parts. Wind gusts accompanied by hail and rain ripped through the City at around 5 pm. The cloudburst wreaked havoc. Many vehicles were also crushed under trees which came down under the impact of the storm. The Ring Road along the Mahanadi and the Kathjodi bore the brunt of the storm with the avenue trees suffering a major blow. A tree crashed on a moving City bus near Matamath. No one was, however, injured in the incident. Large parts of the City plunged into darkness for long hours as the supply lines suffered extensive damage. Areas like Mahanadi Vihar, Badambadi, Kalyan Nagar, Khapuria, Buxi Bazaar, Jobra, College Square, CDA and Cantonment Road were the worst-affected.  According to Cesu Chief Executive Officer  Hemant Sharma, Cuttack along with Kendrapara and Marsaghai areas sustained major damage in the hailstorm. By late night 33-KV lines were restored in Kendrapara and Marsaghai areas, but the 11- KV lines, which supply power to domestic consumers, would take time for restoration, he said. Power supply was restored in phases in Cuttack.  “Electricity poles have been uprooted at many places along with snapping of cables. Work is going on a war-footing and the situation would be normalised by midnight,” Superintending Engineer, Cesu, Cuttack, S K Ray said. Bhubaneswar also witnessed rain accompanied by gusty wind. Power supply was disrupted in several parts as electricity cables were snapped. However, power was restored in the night.