Bhubaneswar: India Meteorological Department (IMD) Friday said heavy rainfall will lash several parts of the state for the next four days as a low pressure area is set to form over the Bay of Bengal August 4.
In a special bulletin, the IMD said heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Koraput, Nawarangpur, Kalahandi, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Angul, Keonjhar, Puri, Ganjam, Jharsuguda,
Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh and Boudh, Saturday.
The Met department has issued yellow and orange warnings for various districts during next four days.
Meanwhile, the state government has asked the Collectors of Malakangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada to keep administrative machinery prepared to meet any possible situation that may arise in the event of extremely/very heavy rainfall. In a letter to the Collectors concerned, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi asked them to closely monitor the situation as flood situation may occur in these districts.
He asked them to identify in advance habitations, hostels of residential schools and welfare institutions which can be used as safe shelters for the affected. As heavy downpour battered several parts of Odisha, rain water submerged many low-lying areas and snapped road connectivity in Malkangiri district Friday, officials said.
In view of the inclement weather and a flood-like situation triggered by incessant rains, the Malkangiri district administration has ordered closure of all schools in district for two days, they said.
Arrangements have been made to evacuate people from vulnerable areas to safe centres where ever necessary, while schools have been closed Friday and Saturday.
Apart from Malkangiri, districts like Nabarangpur, Rayagada and Koraput were also lashed by heavy rains. Malkangiri has received an average rainfall of 115.86mm during the last 24 hours, an official said.