According to a release by the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, a cyclonic circulation has formed over the west-central Bay of Bengal off the south coast of Andhra Pradesh. Under its influence, there would be heavy rainfall in the South Odisha districts of Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Kandhamal from August 11.
Besides, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the north-west Bay of Bengal on August 13. Under its influence, heavy rainfall would occur in the North and North Coastal districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak and Sundargarh including the Central Coastal districts of Kendrapara, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur with isolated extremely heavy rainfall from August 12 to 14, the release added.
The IMD has also issued lightning and thundershower alert for six districts and asked people to remain alert till 7 pm today. The six districts are Nuapada, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, Cuttack and Puri.
Meanwhile, authorities of the Hirakud Dam have opened eight sluice gates to maintain the water level of the reservoir in accordance with the Rule Curve.
The water level of the reservoir was 614.19 feet by 6 pm on Thursday. While the inflow of the Mahanadi water to the reservoir was 88,155 cusecs per second, the outflow was 1,36,301 cusecs per second of which 1,21,680 cusecs were released through eight sluice gates, 11,093 cusecs through the power channel, 2700 cusecs in Bargarh Canal and 78 cusecs in the Sasan Canal.
Following the heavy rainfall forecast by the IMD, the dam authorities will maintain the water level of the reservoir at 610 feet, sources said.
