Heavy rain dampens Diwali spirit in Odisha

Heavy rainfall in Odisha on Thursday dampened Diwali celebrations and the festive spirit, forcing the people to stay indoors, officials said.

The Met Office has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in coastal districts and some other parts of the state.

"Heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Ganjam, Puri, Khorda, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Kendrapara districts by Thursday evening," the Met Office said.

Bhubaneswar Met Office Director Sarat Chandra Sahu said a well-marked low pressure has concentrated into a depression.

He further said: "The mild depression is likely to intensify into a deep depression and cross the Odisha coast between Puri and Chandbali by Thursday midnight or Friday morning."

Local Cautionary Signal Number Three (LC-III) has been hoisted at Paradip and Gopalpur ports in Odisha.

"Strong and gusty surface winds, reaching up to 65 kmph, would blow along the Odisha coast. Sea condition is likely to be rough to very rough and fishermen have been advised to not venture into the sea," the Met Office said.

--IANS

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