Rain forecast for Odisha

IMD today forecast rain or thundershower in Odisha in the next 24 hours and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea as its condition is likely to be rough along and off Odisha coast.
An IMD bulltein said yesterdays well marked low pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood now lies over West Central and adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal. The system is likely to cause rain or thundershower at many places over south Odisha and at a few places over North Odisha during the next 24 hours.
"Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over coastal and adjoining Gajapati, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Nayagarh districts of Odisha," the IMD informed the revenue and disaster management department.

It also said that strong and gusty surface wind from easterly direction in south Odisha and northeasterly direction in North Odisha reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph likely to prevail along and off Odisha Coast.
The IMD advised fishermen not to venture into the sea as its condition is likely to be rough to very rough off and along the Odisha coast.
Meanwhile, the state government has advised farmers to to harvest their paddy crop and store them in safe places.
In a letter to the collectors of all the 30 districts, special relief commissioner (SRC), B P Sethi had said farmers should stack their harvested paddy under suitable cover in order to avoid any loss or damage due to rains.

As per the SRC's suggestion, farmers in many parts of the state - particularly in coastal districts have expedited early harvesting of paddy.