No flood-like situation in State: Deputy Relief Commissioner

Bhubaneswar: The state government today ruled out possibility of flood like situation in the state following heavy downpour for the last two days.

Despite rainfall there is no possibility of a flood-like situation in the state as of now, informed State’s Deputy Relief Commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra.

All district administrations were alerted four days ago and officials are closely monitoring the situation to avert any eventuality, said Mohapatra.

“Bhubaneswar which also recorded heavy rainfall of about 173.2 mm today was waterlogged at different places but there is nothing to worry,” Mohapatra said.

The pilgrim city Puri has registered the highest rainfall in the last 20 years with a cumulative record of 394 mm rainfall in last 24 hours thereby triggering artificial flood-like situation in the town. Satybadi block of Puri district has received 176 mm of rain, the second highest today.

"Water level of Subarnarekha River near Jamsula Ghat that had crossed above danger level was gradually receding. Similarly, the Jalaka River which was also flowing above danger mark will not pose any threat to life since it inundates mostly farmlands. Balasore too has also not recorded much rain and water level in the district will start receding soon," Mohapatra said.

Meanwhile the meteorological department has informed that the low pressure over North-west Bay of Bengal has already turned into a well-marked system today. Due to its effect, all places across the state will get moderate rains while many districts like Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Angul, Boudh, Kandhamal, Cuttack, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh and Kendrapara will continue to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall during the next 24 hours.

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Some districts where extremely heavy rainfall is predicted are Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh and Sambalpur. Signal number 3 has been hoisted at major ports.