Bhubaneswar: The well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal further intensified into a depression on Sunday, raising the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rain in many parts of Odisha.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the well-marked LoPAR over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of north Odisha-West Bengal coasts concentrated into a Depression and lay centred over the same region.
The system lay centred about 50 km south-southeast of Baleshwar & 60 km northeast of Chandbali in Odisha and 60 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal.
It is very likely to move west–north-westwards and cross north Odisha coast between Chandbali and Digha close to Baleshwar during next 24 hours. It is very likely to continue to move further west-north-westwards, across north Odisha and north Chhattisgarh during subsequent 24 hours.
Under its influence, many parts of Odisha are set to be battered by heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain during the next 24 hours. The weather agency has issued red, orange and yellow warnings for different districts.
Red warning of heavy to very heavy rain with isolated extremely heavy falls has been issued for the districts of Sambalpur, Angola, Boudhagada, Sonpur and Kandhamal during the next 24 hours.
Similarly, an orange warning has been issued for the districts of Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, Puri, Kataka, Dhenkanal, Nayagad, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, and Rayagada during the period.
The system has already triggered heavy to very heavy rain in many parts of the state, both coastal and interior districts, in the last 24 hours.
According to data received by the IMD up to 10 am on Sunday, nine places in the state received extremely heavy rainfall (>20 cm), 46 places recorded very heavy rainfall (12 to 20 cm) 57 places with heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm).
Khajuripada in Kandhamala recorded the highest rainfall of 276 mm, while Tureikala in Balangir Tureikela 264 mm of rainfall during the period.
Phulbani received rainfall of 224.4 mm by 8.30 am, followed by Titilagarh with 205.4 mm and Nuapada with 196.0 mm. Kendrapada recorded 176.0 mm, Koraput 127.2 mm.
State capital Bhubaneswar recorded a rainfall of 119.4 mm, while neighbouring Cuttack city received 124.8 mm.
Other districts that received significant rain include Boudhagad with 116.0 mm, Khordha 81.0 mm, Nayagad 79.0 mm and Jagatsinghpur 76.3 mm.
Several low-lying areas in the state reported waterlogging and disruption in normal life due to the incessant rain.
The IMD has predicted more rain in the coming days as the well-marked low pressure area is likely to concentrate into a depression during the next 6 hours. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards across North Odisha and North Chhattisgarh, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall to several parts of the state.
District administrations have been asked to remain alert and the State Emergency Operation Centre is closely monitoring the situation.
