Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued red warning for extremely heavy rainfall over 11 districts of Odisha, under the influence of a low pressure which has formed over north Bay of Bengal.
“The cyclonic circulation over Bangladesh and neighbourhood has turned into a low-pressure area over north Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood early morning today while the associated cyclonic circulation tilting southwestwards is likely to become more marked during next two days. Under its influence, heavy rainfall will lash most parts of Odisha with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places. The rainfall activity will continue till next four days up to August 27,” the IMD said in a mid-day bulletin.
Heavy rainfall will lead to waterlogging, flash flood and damage to informal roads and kutcha houses in some places while there is a possibility of landslide in hilly areas, the bulletin added.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture along and off the Odisha coast and north Bay of Bengal between August 25 and 27 and those who have gone for deep sea fishing are advised to return by tonight as squally weather with strong surface wind reaching 45-55 kmph will make the sea condition very rough.
In view of the heavy rainfall, IMD has issued red, orange and yellow warning for the following districts.
August 24
Orange warning
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
Yellow warning
Heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Puri, Sundargarh and Deogarh.
August 25
Red warning
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Angul and Deogarh.
Orange warning
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Puri, Khurda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Boudh, Balangir and Kandhamal.
Yellow warning
Heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Koraput.
August 26
Red warning
Heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Sambalpur, Sonepur, Bargarh, Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada and Deogarh.
Orange warning
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Nabarangpur, Angul and Keonjhar.
Yellow warning
Heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Malkangiri, Koraput and Jajpur.
August 27
Yellow warning
Heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Bargarh, Nuapada, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Keonjhar.
Acting on the warning, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and additional chief secretary, Disaster Management, Pradeep Jena has directed collectors of the districts under red, orange and yellow warning to remain prepared for waterlogging and localised flood-like situations.
In view of the possibility of flash flood and landslides in hilly areas, the collectors have been asked to alert the BDOs, tehsildars and the engineers of the Water Resources and officials of the Rural Development and Works Departments to ensure road communication, evacuate rainwater in low-lying areas and promptly respond to breaches on embankments and cleaning of drainage channels.
The ODRAF and Fire Services personnel have also been asked to remain on high alert.
The SRC has asked the collectors to ensure functioning of the control room round the clock and provide information about rainfall and furnish the situation report at regular intervals.
