Pre-monsoon showers in Bhubaneswar cause heavy water-logging

Heavy pre-monsoon showers in Odisha on Friday caused heavy water-logging in some areas.

Rains and strong winds have been lashing Odisha since last week due to deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.

Normal life in capital Bhubaneswar was disrupted as vehicles had to traverse waterlogged roads, which caused massive problems in traffic movement.

The state met department said there is probability of more rainfall in the next 24 hours.

"Around noon time heavy rainfall occurred over Bhubaneswar, around 60mm rainfall occurred. Mainly the rainfall occurred due to the cyclonic circulation over central bay, i.e. north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast, and another cyclonic circulation over interior Odisha, it supported causing rainfall in Odisha. We are also predicting that rainfall may occur in many places in Odisha in next 24 hours," said Sharat Chandra Sahu, director of the met department.

Similar weather conditions on Wednesday accompanied by lightning claimed at least 17 lives.

Sahu also said monsoon current from the Bay of Bengal is advancing.

"We are terming this as pre-monsoon rain because today some portion of the Bay of Bengal's monsoon current has advanced, like south east bay, south west bay and some portion of eastern Bay of Bengal," added Sahu.

The monsoon season delivers 70 per cent of India's annual rainfall, which is crucial for agriculture and economic growth that has been hampered by back-to-back droughts.

Meanwhile, several regions in the country are reeling under extreme heat as temperatures have crossed 40 degrees Celsius. Ten days ago, Odisha too was experiencing sweltering weather.