Odisha: Districts put on alert as IMD predicts rain till Tuesday
BHUBANESWAR: A fresh low pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal on Thursday, bringing chances of widespread rain in the state till next Tuesday, a bulletin issued by the IMD said. The IMD issued orange and yellow warnings of heavy to very heavy rain for selected districts during the period.
The forecast came amid light to moderate rainfall in most places in the state for the second successive day on Thursday. The state government, in the wake of the IMD’s rain forecast, has sent a fresh alert to district collectors to remain prepared.
“Districts under orange and yellow warning to remain prepared for waterlogging, flash floods or landslides in hilly areas,” said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena.
Jena, in his advisory to the collectors, told them to keep continuous vigil of low-lying areas. He said help of the fire service team could be taken if search and rescue was required.
H R Biswas, director of the regional IMD centre in the city, said rainfall due to influence of the system would be moderate and continue for 4-5 days. Fisherman were advised not to venture into the sea till October 5, he said.
“The rainfall intensity due to the system may increase in interior districts between October 4 to 6. Also, the coastal region may experience heavy rain under its influence for the next three days from Friday,” said Sarat Sahu, director of Centre for Environment and Climate, SOA Deemed to be University.
Sahu, a former IMD director in the city, said the cyclonic circulation might move towards Maharashtra and Gujarat after October 6 while the southwest monsoon was likely to withdraw from Odisha after October 15.