Odisha alerts collectors of 26 districts as IMD forecast heavy

The Odisha government Tuesday asked collectors of 26 of the 30 districts to remain alert as several regions of the state may witness heavy rainfall due to a low pressure area likely to be formed over north Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood.

The collectors have been put on alert by Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi.

"Due to possible heavy and extremely heavy rainfall, flood situation may arise in the Baitarani, Budhabalang and other river systems. Waterlogging situation may also arise in different parts of the state," he said.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the low pressure area is likely to form during the next 48 hours. As a result, rain/thundershower is likely to occur at many places over the districts of Odisha during the next 24 hours, and moderate rain/thundershower is very likely to occur at most places during subsequent 48 hours, it said.

The SRC has put all collectors on alert, except the collector of Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada.

Sethi has asked all collectors to closely monitor the situation. They were also asked to keep the administrative machinery in full preparedness to meet any eventuality and ensure functioning of control room round the clock.

While rain and thundershower is likely to occur at most places over north and south Odisha, heavy to very heavy rain is likely at some places over northern region and Puri and Khordha districts, the MeT office here said.

Moreover, a low pressure area is likely to form over north Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood around September 6 which may trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall in several areas till the end of this week, it said.

Most parts of the state have already been battered by widespread rainfall for over a month owing to the formation of a series of low pressure in the region.

The MeT office said heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to pound some places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts in the next 24 hours.

It also warned of heavy rainfall at one or two places over Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Angul, Puri and Khurda districts in the next 24 hours.

Fishermen out in the deep sea have been advised to return to the coast by Tuesday night. They have also been told not to venture into the sea along and off Odisha coast and north west Bay of Bengal area during the evening on September 5 and in the morning on September 7.