Seven Odisha district to experience heavy to very heavy

Seven Odisha districts are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall while 10 other districts will receive heavy downpour in the next 24 hours under the influence of a low pressure formed over northwest Bay of Bengal, the IMD said today.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heavy to very heavy rainfall likely to occur at one or two places in the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsingpur, Kendrapara while heavy rainfall very likely in the districts of Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Angul, Rayagada, Boudh and Kandhamal.

A low pressure area lies over northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood with associated cyclonic circulation up to 9.5 km above mean sea level tilting southwestwards with height. The system is likely to become a well marked low pressure area during next 24 hours, the IMD said in its bulletin.

The extremely heavy rainfall is predicted at one or two places in Sambalpur, Sonepur, Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada and Boudh districts of the state, it said.

In its warning for the fishermen, the IMD said: "Under the influence of the low pressure area, strong surface wind speed reaching 35 to 45 kmph likely to prevail along and off Odisha coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea during next 48 hours."