Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday said that a low-pressure area is most likely to form over the North Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast in the next 72 hours.
“A low pressure has centred over the north-west Madhya Pradesh. Under its influence, rainfall accompanied by strong wing would continue for 3-4 days in most parts of North Odisha from August 24. The eastern parts of Odisha would come under its influence the following day. Another low pressure would form over the North Bay of Bengal on August 26 leading to an increase in intensity of rain in the coastal Odisha from the previous night that would lash Puri, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda districts with isolated very heavy showers at one or two places in the next 24 hours,” said a release by the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
The release, however, said that unlike previous low pressures, the intensity and influence of the one to be formed on August 26 would be comparatively less.
The release has also issued heavy rain and lightning alert for the six districts of Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal and Kendrapara and advised people to stay indoors till 6.30 pm on Thursday.
Meanwhile, authorities of the Hirakud Dam closed five gates on Wednesday night due to less inflow of Mahanadi water to the reservoir.
The water level of the reservoir by 9 pm was recorded at 620.27 feet as against the maximum capacity of 630 feet.
While the inflow was 1,06,949 cusecs of water per second, the outflow through the two gates was 45,949 cusecs per second.
