Downpour in Odisha, heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast for

A low pressure over Bay of Bengal triggered downpour in several areas of Odisha Wednesday amidst the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in over 24 districts for next two days, the weatherman 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 low pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood persists. The system is likely to become more marked during the next 24 hours," the meteorological centre here said.

While rain and thundershower is likely to occur at most places in the state under its impact, heavy to very heavy rainfall may lash some areas with extremely heavy rain at one or two places over Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Nayagarh in the next 24 hours, it said.

Several places Balasore, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Deogarh, Aundargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Puri, Ganjam, Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts are likely to face heavy to very heavy rainfall during the period.

In the next two days several places in Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Koraput, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Cuttack and Mayurbhanj districts are likely to be battered by heavy to very heavy rainfall, it said.

As the low pressure persisted over the region, rainfall has occurred at most places over north Odisha and at a few places over southern region with heavy rainfall at one place over north interior parts since Tuesday, it said.

The chief amount of rainfall of 7 cm was recorded at Chandanpur in Mayurbhanj, while other places like Tiring and Joshipur in the same district received 5 cm rainfall, sources in the met office said.

Many places in Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Gajapati, Balangir, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kendrapara, Rayagada and Jagatsinghpur districts were lashed by widespread rainfall since Tuesday, they added.

Due to possible heavy and extremely heavy rainfall, flood situation may arise in the Baitarani, Budhabalang and other river systems. Waterlogging situation may also crop up in different parts of the state, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi had said while sounding alert on Tuesday.

The Odisha government had on Tuesday asked the collectors of 26 of the 30 districts to remain alert in view of the likelihood of heavy rainfall due to low pressure area.

Alert was sounded for all districts except Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada.

The district collectors were asked 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.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off Odisha coast in the next 48 hours in view of rough weather conditions.