Severe storm in Odisha’s Baripada kills 2, injures 3, uprooted trees

Severe storm lashes Baripada, Odisha, killing 2, injuring 3; uprooted trees blocked roads disrupt movement across the town.

Published on: Mar 28, 2026, 10:03:50 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty, Bhubaneswar

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Two people were killed and three others were injured as a severe storm with heavy rain and strong winds hit Baripada in Odisha, causing widespread damage, police said.

Heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning hit Baripada.

Heavy rain, gusty winds, and lightning during the storm uprooted trees in several areas and blocked major roads.

A tree reportedly fell on a moving motorcycle near Asanjoda on Kuliana Road, killing the rider on the spot. Another motorcyclist died at Khunta along the Baripada–Udala Road after colliding with a fallen tree amid heavy rain and poor visibility.

Also read: Tornado kills 2, injures 17; damages 100 houses in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj | Watch

The deceased were identified as Nabadas Hansda and Naveen Murmu, officials said.

Three others sustained injuries in separate storm-related incidents and were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Officials said that the sudden onset of the storm late at night led to widespread disruption, with several roads blocked due to fallen trees.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a cyclonic circulation remains active over Odisha and adjoining regions, leading to unstable atmospheric conditions. Under its influence, the IMD has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and possible hailstorms at isolated places across the state over the next seven days.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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