Odisha: Heavy rainfall lashes several districts as low pressure area over Bay of Bengal intensifies
Bhubaneswar, Sep 14: Widespread rains lashed several parts of Odisha as a well-marked low pressure area over the northwest and adjoining North Odisha-West Bengal coasts intensified into something more marked on Thursday morning.
The low pressure area now lies as a well-marked low pressure area over the Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Odisha and West Bengal, triggering heavy rainfall activity over the districts of Odisha.
Meteorological sources said the low pressure is likely to move across Odisha and Chhattisgarh during the next two days.
Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon has been vigorous over Odisha during the past 24 hours, with widespread light to moderate rain and thundershowers with heavy to very heavy rain at a few places over districts of Odisha and isolated extremely heavy rain over districts of Bolangir and Rayagada.
Met sources said there will be flash floods and waterlogging in low-lying areas, inundation of agriculture fields, and landslides in vulnerable hilly areas. It further said heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
Squally weather with gusty surface wind speeds reaching 40 to 50 kmph is very likely over the northwest adjoining west central Bay of Bengal along and off the Odisha coast until September 15, Met sources said, and advised the fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast, northwest adjoining west central Bay of Bengal, until September 15.
Reports reaching here said some blocks in Koraput, Malkangiri and Kandhamal districts were badly affected by the rain.
The Special Relief Commissioner has already reviewed the situation with senior officers of the districts and instructed them to take precautionary measures. The administrative machinery in the districts under red, orange, or yellow warning has been asked to be ready to face any eventuality.
In case of very heavy rain, people in low-lying areas may be shifted to safer locations temporarily, if required, the SRC said.
The people have been advised to keep a watch on the weather and take safe shelter during thunderstorm activity to protect from lightning.
