Bhubaneswar: The regional Meteorological centre here on Tuesday predicted that north and southern parts of Odisha are likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall on August 29 and 30 under the influence of a fresh low pressure area forming over the northwest Bay of Bengal.
Several districts including Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall on August 29 and 30. One or two places of Kalahandi, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts will also witness heavy rainfall during the time.
Likewise, rainfall activities are also very much likely in parts of Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Boudh, Nayagarh, Khurda, Sundergarh and Keonjhar districts.
The weatherman has even forecasted that some places in the State could receive rainfall up to 100 mm. In view of the possibility of rainfall, the weather department has issued Orange alert for several districts on August 30.
“The quantity of rainfall is most likely to increase in several places of Coastal and North Odisha towards the end of the month due to the low pressure,” said Gaurang Charan Behera, duty officer of Regional Meteorological Centre.
Behera further predicted that even though there is little chance of heavy showers, light to moderate rainfall accompanied with lightning are likely to occur in North and South Odisha for today.
The duty officer further urged people to remain alert in view of the lightning activity which has been claiming many lives in the State. “We request people to be alert as lightning likely to occur along with the rainfall on August 29 and 30,” Gaurang Charan added.
Meanwhile, due to heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas of Mahanadi and several other rivers, water level is gradually increasing in Hirakud Dam. In order to maintain water level in the reservoir, the dam authorities today opened four more sluice gates to release extra floodwater. Presently water is being discharged from the dam through 10 gates with inflow at 1, 88, 672 cusec and outflow at 1, 16,871 cusec.
Likewise, water level is also rising in Jalaka river due to incessant rainfall in Morada, Suliapada, Rasgovindpur and Chitrada areas of Mayurbhanj district for the last two days. Water level of the river crossed danger mark near Mathani becoming 6.46 metre against the danger level of 5.50 metre.
Heavy rainfall has also triggered flood-like situation in different places of Balasore district like Patrajhara, Dudhahansa, Kudi, Mathani, Baharda and Rasulpur and Srirampur.