Deep depression & IMD’s red alert for heavy rainfall: Odisha SRC issues advisory

The office of the Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) on Tuesday issued an advisory in view of the formation of a deep depression system and heavy rainfall forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD has issued a ‘red warning’ for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of Odisha in the next 48 hours.

In its advisory, the SRC has asked district Collectors Municipal Corporations, and other officials to remain alert, especially in the districts where Red, Orange, or Yellow warnings have been issued by the IMD.

Special instructions have been issued to the officials to ensure that field-level functionaries in strategic locations of flash flooding and waterlogging are on alert and do not leave the headquarters.

"In case of very heavy rain, people in low-lying areas may be shifted to safer places on temporary basis. The Urban Local Bodies should also keep the drains, and stormwater channels decongested and adequate dewatering pumps may be deployed as per requirement," the SRC advisory read.

As per the available information, Bhubaneswar recorded 259.2 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Similarly, six places in the state recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Heavy rainfall activities triggered waterlogging conditions in several parts of the state.