Hailstorm hits Orissa capital, uproots trees, snap power

Bhubaneswar, Feb 20 (UNI) Power supply was disrupted in several parts of the capital city and many trees were uprooted as a squall, accompanied by hailstorm, lashed the city for six minutes today.

Local MET office sources here said the hailstorm with a wind speed reaching up to 152 km per hour from south and south-west direction hit the city at 1508 hrs and lasted for six minutes.

Under its influence, 24 mm of rainfall was reported in the state capital bringing life to a grinding halt for some time.

The storm caused extensive damage to the ongoing Bhubaneswar book fair.

Sources said more than 30 book stalls were damaged and books worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed.

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