Bhubaneswar: In view of rainfall forecast for the next two days, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena on Friday directed collectors of all districts in Odisha to keep shelters and school buildings open at night for homeless people.
They have also been advised to protect the harvested paddy to avoid any loss/damage due to rain.
Thunderstorm and lightning are likely to occur in Bhadrak, Balasore, Cuttack, Angul, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Ganjam, Kalahandi and Gajapati within 24 hours, the mid-day bulletin of IMD said on Friday.
The IMD had earlier issued heavy rainfall warning at one or two places in Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Jharsuguda districts. Light rain and thundershower were predicted at one or two places in Deogarh, Sonepur, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Angul, Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Jharsuguda districts during the period. Some places in Bhadrak, Balasore, Angul, Cuttack, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Gajapati districts were also also expected experience light to moderate rainfall.
Sonepur, Boudh, Khaprakhol in Bolangir and some other places recorded 3 cm rainfall by 8.30 am on Friday morning.
The rainfall activity will continue in Odisha for the next two days till January 4 after which there will be a sharp fall in the night temperature, duty officer of the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Sudhakar Mallick had said.
While rain caused by a trough passing through north interior Odisha, will recede on Sunday, dense fog will envelope most places in the same from the same day and the weather condition will prevail till Tuesday (January 7), the IMD has said in its forecast.
The night temperature, which has risen over 10 degree C following cloudy sky, will drop by around 4-5 degree Celsius from Sunday, the local Met office said, adding that the minimum temperature at most places in the state will be around 9-10 degree C.
The IMD, however, has not issued any cold wave warning for Odisha till Wednesday (January 8).
