Fresh low pressure area likely to trigger rain in Odisha in

With a fresh low pressure area taking shape over the Bay of Bengal, the meteorological centre here on Friday predicted heavy rainfall in several parts of Odisha over the next three days.

This will be the third instance of low pressure area triggering downpour in the state in August.

Several areas of south and west Odisha had encountered flash floods owing to incessant rainfall earlier this month.

In the past two days, too, the state has experienced rainfall of varied intensity.

Vehicular traffic was disrupted in Bhubaneswar on Friday as rain lashed Nayapalli, Jaydev Vihar, Acharya Vihar, Baramunda, GGP Colony, Jharpara and Palasuni areas here.

Under the influence of the cyclonic circulation, over northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha and West Bengal coasts, a low pressure area is likely to form over Odisha and its neighbourhood in the next 36 hours.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall are likely to occur in Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts till Saturday, the meteorological centre said.

Heavy rainfall is also expected in Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Sundargarh, Angul, Khordha, Ganjam, among other areas during the period.

Torrential downpour may also batter places in Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir and Nuapada districts on Sunday and Monday.

Squally wind with speed reaching 40-50 kmph is likely to prevail along Odisha coast and adjoining northwest and west central Bay of Bengal, the MeT Centre said.

As sea condition is likely to be rough to very rough, fishermen have been cautioned against venturing into the sea on Saturday and Sunday, it added.