Three killed in nor'wester in Odisha

At least three persons were killed and several others injured in a nor"wester that hit six districts of Odisha, an official said today.

While two persons died when trees fell on them in Balasore and Bargarh districts, another died due to wall collapse in Mayurbhanj district during the squall last night, Deputy Special Relief Commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said.

A report from Malkangiri district said that three persons were injured in the nor"wester accompanied by heavy rain, he said.

They were injured after tree branches fell on their houses and damaged major portions in two different places in Khairaput block of the district.

Vehicular movement was severely affected at Gobindapalli Chhak on the road connecting Jeypore and Malkangiri after a number of trees were uprooted in the storm.

Tele-communication and power supply were disrupted owing to snapping of power lines in most parts of the district.

The six affected districts are Bargarh, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Sonepur and Mayurbhanj, he said.

Of the six districts, Bargarh was the worst affected with massive damage to standing crops in Bhatli, Atabira, Bheden, Barpalli and Bijepur blocks, a preliminary report said.

Mohapatra said the state government would provide Rs four lakh as ex-gratia to each family of three deceased and a compensation of Rs 5.31 lakh for the houses damaged in Mayurbhanj district.

This apart, the collectors of the six districts have been asked to submit a detailed report on the damage at the earliest, he added.

Meanwhile, IMD predicted more squall, rain and hail storm in various parts of Odisha till May 5.