Odisha puts 15 districts on alert for heavy rain

With the IMD predicting widespread rainfall from Thursday due to a depression in the Bay of Bengal, Odisha government on Tuesday put 15 districts of the state on alert to deal with possible flood and waterlogging situations, official sources said.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management, PK Jena in a letter to the district collectors said: "Administrative machinery to remain alert to meet the flood/waterlogging situation that may arise in the event of extremely/ heavy rainfall. The situation may be closely watched."
Replying to a question on possible cyclone in the state as reported in a section of media, SRC said: "The IMD has not given any such information. The IMD had correctly forecast cyclones like Hudhud and Fani. We will go by its forecast of widespread rainfall as predicted by IMD and do the needful."