Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to witness heavy rainfall as a low pressure is predicted over the North-East Bay of Bengal by August 4, said the regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar today.
While briefing media, Laxmikant Giri, the duty officer at the Bhubaneswar Met Centre, said "A low-pressure area is likely to form over the North-East Bay of Bengal by August 4. On account of the same, a cyclonic circulation is likely to develop due to which eight districts of the State could witness heavy rainfall on August 2 and 3."
The weatherman further said that in the last 24 hours the State received light rainfall under the influence of the trough line between South Gujarat and interior Odisha which is now centred at 4.5- 7.6 km above sea level.
"At 16. 0 mm, Sundergarh recorded the highest rainfall of the day yesterday. No warning has been issued for the next 48 hours, however, as the monsoon is in normal condition, there may be light to moderate rainfall in some places," he said.
Laxmikant further informed that Odisha has received 20 per cent less rainfall than normal during this monsoon till date. The state has recorded 443 mm rainfall instead of 551 mm last year. Gajapati has recorded 45 percent less rainfall than normal and Mayurbhanj also has received 43 percent less. Another eight districts also have received less than normal rainfall, he added.
"However, we are hopeful that the deficit will come down after the low-pressure on August 4," he further said.
Meanwhile, around 2000 residents under Ghatabasuli Grama panchayat in Kosagumuda block are marooned for the past couple of days following heavy rain. The district administration is distributing relief materials to the affected people with the help of an Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) unit from Koraput. Likewise, five villages - Ghatachura, Kataguda, Nuagarh, Alupadar and Lajiaguda - in Binjili GP are also reportedly marooned.