Odisha alerts district collectors as Met warns of heavy rain

With the Met department forecast warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Odisha due to formation of a possible low pressure area and subsequent depression, the state government Tuesday put all district collectors on alert.

Special Relief Commissioner B P Sethi said that as per forecast of IMD, a low pressure area is very likely to develop over central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal during 24 hours. It is likely to concentrate into a depression and move westnorthwards towards north Andhra Pradesh, south Odisha coast during subsequent 48 hours.

"Alert all concerned and keep the administrative machinery in full preparedness to meet any eventuality and ensure functioning of control room round the clock. Situation should be closely monitored," Sethi said in separate letters to the district collectors.

The Met forecast said under influence of the system, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely on September 20 at isolated places over Odisha with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Koraput districts, Sethi said in the letter.

He said further heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur on September 21 at isolated places over southern districts with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Nuapada, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts. Heavy rainfall is also forecast at isolated places over northern districts, Sethi said.

In view of adverse weather conditions, the MeT office advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off Odisha coast till Friday.

The fresh spell of low pressure has taken shape after Odisha was battered by heavy downpour due to a series of low pressure since beginning of August.