Orange Warning: Heavy Rain Likely To Pound Bhubaneswar, Cuttack In 3 Hours

Bhubaneswar: Rainfall activity in Odisha has increased with the formation of a low pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast on Thursday morning.

“Under the influence of the cyclonic circulation over Northwest & adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts, a low pressure area has formed over northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast. It is likely to move west-northwestwards across Odisha during next 2 days.”

Light/moderate widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely across the state till July 24, India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed.

The weather agency has issued orange warning for light to moderate rain/thundershowers with one or two intense spells of rain in some parts of districts of Khurda & Cuttack (including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack city), Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Jajpur, Angul, Dhankanal, and Boudh till 3 pm.

Waterlogging in low lying areas, occasionally poor visibility and traffic disruption in urban areas are likely, it added.

The IMD had earlier warned of inundation in low-lying areas and roads in some blocks of Malkangiri and Koraput districts due to continuation of heavy rain activity in the state in the next few days. There was also a possibility of landslides in vulnerable hilly areas – Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Ganjam and Gajapati.

Squally weather with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40 to 50 kmph is very likely along & off Odisha coast, northwest adjoining West central Bay of Bengal from July 20-22, it further said.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along & off Odisha coast, Northwest adjoining West Central Bay of Bengal during this period.