Bhubaneswar, March 17 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued thunderstorm and rainfall alerts for several districts of Odisha over the next five days, with an Orange Warning for Mayurbhanj district on Tuesday. The weather office has warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail, and gusty winds in parts of the state.

According to the IMD forecast valid till 8:30 AM on March 17, light to moderate rain or thunderstorms are likely at several places across coastal, north, and interior Odisha.

Districts expected to receive rainfall include Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Boudh.

Rain may al...