Bhubaneswar: Heavy rains lashed several parts of Odisha and with weatherman Sunday forecasting more showers in the state in the next four days, the government has put five districts on alert.
A fresh low pressure area is likely to form over northeast Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood in the next 48 hours which may enhance rainfall in the state till August 7, H R Biswas, Director of the meteorological centre here, said.
In view of the forecast, the state government has issued an advisory to the Collectors of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada districts to closely monitor the situation as heavy rains may create flood-like situation in these areas, officials said.
While most parts of Odisha lashed by rainfall for the last two days, heavy to very heavy downpour pounded some areas in Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Bhadrak and a few places in the north coastal region of the state.
Rainfall of varied intensity will continue in many parts of the state for the next few days, while heavy to very heavy downpour is likely to occur in some places of Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Koraput Sunday, the MeT centre said.
Some areas of Bolangir, Bargarh, Gajapati and Keonjhar are likely to receive heavy rainfall Sunday, it said, adding heavy rains may lash some areas of Bargarh, Nuapada, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur Monday too.
On August 6 and 7, heavy rainfall is likely to occur at some places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati Boudh, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack and Khurda districts, the MeT centre said and added several areas may receive rainfall till August 8.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi, in a communication, asked the Collectors concerned to keep the administrative machinery prepared to meet any situation that may arise in the event of very heavy rains.