Bhubaneswar: The Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar today informed that the rain triggered by a ‘well-marked low pressure’ over the Bay of Bengal will continue to lash the State for the next 24 hours.
Duty Officer of Bhubaneswar Met Centre Radhakant Behera said, “The rainfall will continue to occur in several parts of the State for the next 24 hours. Some districts like Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak and Jagatsinghpur might receive heavy rainfall along with thunderstorm and lightning. Similarly, some districts of south coastal and interior Odisha will also receive moderate rainfall today.”
However, the downpour will gradually decline after 24 hours, added the officer.
The Met centre also issued thunderstorm along with lightning and rainfall warning for 11 districts of the State.
As per the latest bulletin issued by the Met department, moderate thunderstorm along with lightning and moderate to intense rainfall is likely to continue at one or two places over the districts of Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Khurda including Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Bhadrak, Balasore and Dhenkanal till 10.30 AM today.
People living in the above mentioned districts have been cautioned to stay alert during the period.
Meanwhile, the weather department informed that in the last 24 hours, Bhubaneswar recorded rainfall of 143.8 mm while Cuttack received 113.2 mm. Similarly, Balasore recorded 141.8 mm rainfall whereas Chandbali in Bhadrak district received 123.2 mm rainfall.
The incessant rain caused by a well-marked low pressure over the Bay of Bengal has been affecting normal life across the State for the last two days. It has triggered flood-like situation in several low-lying areas and landslides in some places throwing life out of gear.
As per reports, the water level of Jalaka river at Mathani in Balasore district has crossed danger mark of 5.5 metre and is increasing at 0.10 metre per hour.
Yesterday, the Met Centre issued Red warning for five districts including Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Khurda and Puri. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue in these districts for next 12 hours.
Similarly, Orange warning was issued for ten districts- Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Deogarh and Angul districts whereas Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts have been issued Yellow warning.
Keeping in view the torrential rain, the district administrations of Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, Dhenkanal, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur declared holiday for schools and anganwadi centres today.