MeT forecasts more downpour in Odisha for next four days

Downpour is likely to lash several parts of Odisha for next four days while the situation in rain-battered Malkangiri district eased on Sunday with water receding from submerged areas.

Rainfall of moderate intensity is likely to occur till August 8, while several areas are expected to be lashed by heavy downpour from August 6 to 8, the Meteorological Centre here said in a bulletin.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to lash some places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Gajapati and Ganjam districts on August 6 and 7, it said.

Thereafter, several areas of districts such as Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh and Jharsuguda may get heavy rainfall, the MeT department said.

Meanwhile, the situation in Malkangiri district, which received incessant rain for last few days, improved on Sunday, officials said.

With water level of Sileru, Saberi, Poteru and Saptadhara rivers beginning to recede, road connectivity has been restored in the region, they said.

Malkangiri district Collector Manish Agarwal said rainfall is still continuing in the district, but the intensity of downpour has subsided considerably, leading to water receding in the inundated areas.

He said the administration is fully prepared to deal with any situation and 14 centres have been opened for providing free food.

The extent of damage including loss of crops in low- lying areas will be assessed properly,said an official.