Weather Alert: Heavy rain forecast for next 12 hours in 9 districts

Bhubaneswar: Rains triggered by low pressure will lash the state for next 12 hours, predicted the  Regional Meteorological Department. The alert has been issued for Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Sundergarh, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts

Fishermen have also been warned from going into the sea because of the strong winds.

Rains also lashed Puri where devotees holding umbrellas gathered in large numbers to witness the divine bath of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on the occasion of Snana Purnima.

On Wednesday, there were reports of houses getting damaged because of the rains in Rourkela while tourists had to face hardship on premises of the Konark temple due to waterlogging.