Rainfall likely to lash several parts of Odisha in next two days

Bhubaneswar: While Odisha has been experiencing rain deficit for past two weeks despite an active monsoon, in what would be a big relief for farming community, the Regional Meteorological Centre today forecast that several parts of the State will get rainfall in next 48 hours under the influence of a low pressure. Heavy rainfall is predicted at a few places in southern and coastal parts of the State.

“A cyclonic circulation has formed over north-west Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal Odisha which is likely to turn into a low pressure in next 48 hours. Under its impact, light to moderate rainfall and lightning along with thunderstorm will occur at several parts of the State,” said Charana Behera, duty officer, Regional Meteorological Centre.

Behera further stated that isolated places in southern districts will experience heavy rainfall. “A few places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Nayagarh will get heavy rainfall under the influence of the low pressure in next two days,” Behera added.

According to sources, the State has witnessed 21% deficient rainfall as on July 14. The local Met office here has said that fifty per cent or as many as 15 districts in the State have experienced deficient rainfall in the range of 20 per cent to 57 per cent by July 14.

Odisha had registered a deficit rainfall of 31.5 per cent in June this year. The state received an average rainfall of 148.3 mm against the Long Term Average (LTA) of 216.5 mm during the month.

Of the 30 districts, Jajpur received the highest rainfall of 253.7 mm in June, whereas Gajapati district received the lowest of 59.8 mm.

Rainfall in as many as six districts - Bolangir, Keonjhar, Nuapada, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Sundargarh - remained severe deficit between 39 per cent and 59 per cent during June.