Bhubaneswar: Changing its earlier forecast of a low pressure, the Bhubaneswar Regional Meteorological Centre on Monday informed that it will take another 24 hours for the cyclonic circulation over West-central Bay of Bengal to induce a low pressure.
The meteorological centre had earlier predicted heavy rain in coastal districts from October 29. But due to weakening of the cyclonic circulation, the low pressure area is yet to develop over the Bay of Bengal.
“We expect a low pressure in the next 24 hours and it will trigger moderate to heavy rainfall in several coastal districts in the next 48 hours,” said director of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, HR Biswas.
Biswas further informed that fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea in the next 48 hours owing to the Cyclonic circulation over West-central and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal.
Moreover, the cyclonic circulation is expected to induce a low-pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal and it is likely to trigger moderate to heavy rainfall in several parts of coastal districts in Odisha in the next 24 hours.
Heavy rain is likely in Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Kendrapara districts and a yellow warning has been issued for these coastal areas. Apart from these three districts, several other parts including Ganjam, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore will also experience moderate to heavy rainfall from October 30 to November 1.
Several parts of the State mostly coastal areas including Jajpur, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack witnessed light to moderate rainfall (scattered) in the past 24 hours.
In view of the heavy rainfall forecast by the India Meteorological Department, the state government has asked the collectors of the coastal districts to stay prepared to tackle the situation, Deputy Special Relief Commissioner, Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said.
Farmers have been advised to take all precautionary measures to save their paddy from rain which is likely to pose a serious threat to the standing crops, sources said.
The Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) has released an advisory for farmers to take precautionary measures like sprinkling saline solution on standing crops to prevent them from breaking down, they added.