Rain May Dampen Diwali Spirits In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday sounded heavy to very heavy rainfall for five Odisha districts under the influence of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal.

In a mid-day bulletin, it said that the cyclonic circulation formed over the south-west Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast and adjoining west-central Bay of  Bengal on Monday, has turned into a low- pressure area on Tuesday and now lies over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining south-west Bay of Bengal. It is very likely to become more marked during the next 24 hours and move in the north­-north-west direction towards Andhra Pradesh coast.

“Under its influence, rainfall activity will begin in Odisha for two days with thunderstorm and lightning in the next 24 hours from October 23, while heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur in some parts of coastal and interior districts for three days from October 24,” the bulletin added.

In view of the heavy rainfall, IMD has issued orange and yellow warning at one or two places for the following districts.

October 24
(Yellow warning)
Heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput,  Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Nabarangpur.

October 25
(Orange Warning)
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Nabarangpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh and Keonjhar.

(Yellow warning)
Kalahandi, Balangir, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Puri, Khurdha and Cuttack.

October 26
(Yellow warning)
Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Bhadrak.

Due to the inclement weather, the fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off the south Odisha coast on October 23.