Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Even as the countdown for goddess Durga's arrival on earth has almost reached its last leg, heavy rains due to low pressure over North Andaman coast is most likely to dampen the Puja spirits of the revellers and organisers alike.
 
“The low pressure area formed over North Andaman coast may take the shape of deep depression and cyclonic storm further in next 24 hours. Heavy rains are likely as it too gives indication to intensify further,” director of the local Regional Meteorological Centre, Sarat Chandra Sahu said.
 
“Though it is premature enough to forecast about the development and movement of the low pressure, it will affect most parts of the Odisha, if passes over the state in next two/three days,” added he. There is a chance that it will rain on all four puja days, the weatherman said.
 
With the puja fever gripping the state, Tuesday’s patchy drizzle in the state capital and the incessant rain few days ago have given sleepless nights to artisans sculpting Durga idols. Worse still is the condition of artistes making eco-friendly idols.
 
Artisans in the twin cities making clay idols are facing troubles in drying the idols made of clay, hay and bamboo. “We only hope that it should not rain further, else it will be very difficult to dry the statues,” said Chandra Mukherjee, an artisan from Kolkata.
 
In Bhubaneswar, the organizers are more worried about the approaching road to the pandals as the rain water is yet to dry. “We are worried about the static water and it can’t be drained due to improper system. If the situation persists, we have to make a way out for the convenience of the pandal-hoppers,” said Chinmay dash, an organiser.
 
But the prediction of the local meteorological office has multiplied their woes.
 
“When a cyclonic storm arrives from Central Bay of Bengal, it sometimes deviates from the path usually it follows. In this case we too assume that it may change the normal course and move towards Odisha,” he added.
 
The local meteorological office would study the formation once it turns into a depression.
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