Storm knocks down signs, lightning injures 3 in neighboring cities.

The cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack were hit by a fierce Nor'wester storm on Thursday, causing chaos and destruction. The strong winds toppled iron hoardings at various locations, creating a dangerous situation. Unfortunately, a family of three was caught in the middle of the storm and suffered critical injuries after being struck by lightning.

The incident took place in the Niladri Vihar slum area of Bhubaneswar, where the three family members were immediately rushed to the SCB Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the rest of the city was struggling to cope with the aftermath of the storm. One particularly alarming incident occurred at Old Station Bazaar, where a large iron hoarding near the Durga Puja mandap came crashing down.

Thankfully, no one was injured, but a car and motorcycle parked beneath the structure were damaged. According to a resident, the hoarding had only been installed about 10 days prior as a temporary fixture. This raises concerns about the safety measures taken in the city during such extreme weather events.

In Cuttack, a similar incident took place at Satichaura Chhak, where a hoarding that was already in a precarious state collapsed and landed on a nearby coconut tree. The aftermath of the storm also had a significant impact on the local newspaper, Orissa POST, which reported the incident. Despite facing challenges, the newspaper remains the number one English daily in Odisha.

The storm may have caused damage and chaos, but the resilient people of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack will surely bounce back and rebuild their cities.