Koraput: Due to the effects of summer storms and seasonal “Kal Baisakhi” winds, Lakshmipur block under Koraput district experienced a one-hour-long spell of heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and hail, which disrupted daily life in the entire region.
The downpour, which began suddenly in the afternoon, was so intense that it disrupted power supply and caused water to overflow onto roads. Drains became clogged, and garbage from the drains overflowed onto the streets. Fearing water entering homes, many residents could be seen using umbrellas in the rain while clearing blockages in drains by hand.
In Lakshmipur, during the ongoing Mutyalamma Ghanta Yatra held at Mina Bazaar, a major attraction of the area, several shops were damaged due to strong winds and rain. Water entered many shops, damaging various business materials. Some shopkeepers reported significant losses.
Even 8 hours after the rain, electricity had not yet been restored. Business owners near the Lakshmipur bus stand, like Niranjan Choudhury, reported that thousands of rupees worth of ice cream had melted and gone to waste. Some even showed the spoiled ice cream to the media.
Shopkeepers expressed their frustration, stating that despite paying commercial electricity bills, the frequent power outages were causing major financial losses.