Incessant rains crippled life in several parts of Odisha Thursday as the depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression, raising the likelihood of more downpour till Friday, officials said.
Low-lying areas in several districts, including Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Khordha were inundated as heavy rain pounded many parts of the state since Tuesday, they said.
Vehicular movement was disrupted at many places with roads getting submerged with rain water. Life was affected in the twin-city of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
With rain water leaving several areas marooned in Cuttack city, the administration declared closure of all educational institutions Thursday.
Life came to a standstill in the port town of Paradip which recorded a maximum 412 mm rain since Wednesday, the officials said, adding waterlogging in several areas of the Paradip Port disrupted loading and unloading of consignments.
A large number of vehicles were seen submerged in water as all low-lying areas in Paradip faced deluge.
Areas around the famous Sun Temple in Konark are under knee-deep water, while many places in the sea-side pilgrim town of Puri faced severe water logging, they said.
The depression, which concentrated into a deep depression, moved westwards before crossing the West Bengal coast close to Digha. It is likely to weaken gradually during the next 24 hours, said Director of Bhubaneswar Regional Meteorological Centre, H R Biswas.
Under its impact, rain and thundershower is likely to occur in most places in Odisha, while heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy rainfall may lash northern, southern and interior regions, said a MeT bulletin.
Squally wind with a speed of 50-60 kmph and up to 70 kmph is likely to sweep areas along and off Odisha and West Bengal coasts in the next 24 hours, while the sea condition would be rough to very rough, it said
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