Bhubaneswar/Cuttack/Puri: The Low Pressure Area (LPA) over Northwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a well-marked low pressure under the impact of which, almost all parts of the State have been witnessing heavy spells of rainfall since Monday.
The Regional Meteorological Science Centre of IMD in Bhubaneswar predicted that under the influence of the well-marked low pressure near West Bengal, Odisha coast and its adjoining areas, the State would continue to receive incessant rainfall till Wednesday.
The administrations of eight districts- Jajpur, Kendrapara, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Boudh and Bargarh have been asked to remain alert in view of the Red Warning (take action) & heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast issued by the IMD for the next 24 hours.
Similarly, the weather department has also predicted thunderstorm and lightning warning for parts of Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Nayagarh districts.
“Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall in north Odisha. The intensity of rainfall will decrease after 24 hours except in western parts of Odisha, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places,” informed Director of IMD, Bhubaneswar HR Biswas.
On the other hand, normal life has been thrown out of gear across the State due to enhanced rainfall activities since yesterday. Several low-lying areas in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar have been waterlogged forcing residents to stay indoors. Vehicular communication has also been hit due to inundation of major roads in the low lying areas.
Similarly, torrential rainfall has inundated Badadanda and other adjoining regions in Puri Town where Rath Yatra festivities will begin from Thursday.
“In the last 24 hours, Chandbali has recorded the highest rainfall at 122.3 mm followed by Bolangir at 92.6 mm, Bhubaneswar -70.8, Sonepur -70.0 mm, Cuttack-55.4 mm, Sambalpur-58.6 and Hirakud-50.2,” informed Charan Behera, Duty Officer of Bhubaneswar Met Centre.
Commissioner of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Ananya Das informed that attempts to drain out excess water from inundated low lying areas of the city are underway.