Balasore: A spell of hailstorm, which was accompanied by rain, ravaged north Balasore on Saturday evening.
Remuna, Nilgiri, Badasahi, Baisinga and Betnati were affected in the hailstorm along with other places. Property worth of crores of rupees was damaged and at least 20 people in Remuna were hurt.
Besides uprooting trees and electric poles, the hailstorm has also caused heavy damage to asbestos and straw roofs houses and standing paddy, vegetable and pulses.
The entire area plunged into darkness for hours with electricity supply lines severed. Power supply to Balasore town and its surrounding areas was restored after eight hours and several other areas were still without power at the time of the filing of this report.
The worst-affected areas were Remuna, Nilgiri and the three blocks of Betnati, Badasahi and Baisinga of Mayurbhanj district. The worst effected pockets are Badapal, Mandarpur and Hatiaganda areas of Remuna block in Balasore district. Baisinga, Betnati and Badasahi blocks of Mayurbhanj district also suffered some damage. Two cattle, one each in Remuna and Badasahi, were killed when lightning struck them.
"The Remuna block is known as the vegetable bowl of Balasore district. Farmers here grow variety of vegetables, pulses and fruits on the banks of river Sono and Budhabalanga. Besides local consumption, the produce are also exported," said local resident Dilip Nayak.
"Hailstones of unusual size, some weighing more than 500gm, struck the area," he said.
Officials of the Balasore district administration said appropriate steps would be taken to grant compensation to the affected people.
"The block development officers and tehsildars have been asked to submit reports of damage and loss after making field visits," said additional district magistrate Manas Ranjan Padhi.