Orange Alert: IMD Warns Of Landslides & Inundation With Very Heavy Rain Forecast For Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha may experience heavy to very heavy rain for five days under the influence of strong monsoon flow and a low pressure, which is likely to form over Northwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Wednesday.

According to the midday bulletin, heavy to very heavy rain (7 to 20 cm) may lash isolated places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Ganjam, and Gajapati till 8.30 am on Thursday. Heavy rain (7 to 11 cm) is also likely at one or two places in Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Balangir, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Angul, Nayagarh, Boudh, Puri and Khurda districts.

The MeT office has again issued orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain (7 to 20 cm) at isolated places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Kandhamal during the subsequent 24 hours (July 20). Heavy rain (7 to 11 cm) is also expected at one or two places in Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Puri, Gajapati, Rayagada, Cuttack, Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir and Bargarh.

On July 21, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) may occur at isolated places in Sonepur, Balangir, Sambalpur, Boudh, Angul, Cuttack, and Jagatsinghpur with heavy rain (7 to 11cm) likely in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Kendrapada, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh and Sundargarh.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) is likely to occur at isolated places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi on July 22. There is also a forecast for heavy Rainfall (7 to 11 cm) at one or two places in Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Balangir and Sambalpur.

On July 23, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) is likely to lash isolated places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Gajapati Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) may also occur at one or two places in Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur and Balangir.

The IMD has warned of inundation in low-lying areas and roads in some blocks of Malkangiri and Koraput districts due to continuation of heavy rain activity. There is also a possibility of landslides in vulnerable hilly areas – Malkangiri, Koraput, Nawarangpur, 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.