Bhubaneswar: A fresh low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal Thursday is likely to trigger heavy downpour in many parts of Odisha over the next four days, prompting the government to ask the districts to remain prepared to deal with possible water-logging and flood-like situations.
Under the influence of a cyclonic circulation, a new low-pressure area has formed over northwest Bay of Bengal off north Odisha and West Bengal coasts, said HR Biswas, the Director of the Meteorological Centre here.
This is the third low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal this month. Many areas of Odisha have already been battered by heavy to very heavy rainfall under the impact of the low-pressure areas formed August 4 and 9.
While light to moderate rainfall has occurred in many places in south Odisha and at a few places over the northern region, heavy to very heavy rainfall took place in some areas of Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kendrapara, Cuttack and Kalahandi districts over the last few days, he said.
Incessant rainfall in Malkangiri and Rayagada districts has caused water-logging in several areas, he added.
Under the influence of the fresh low-pressure area, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to lash many parts of the state till August 16, while strong surface wind with 40-50 kmph speed may prevail over northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast, he said.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea Friday and Saturday.
In view of the adverse weather conditions, Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena asked the district administrations to closely monitor the situation and remain prepared to meet any possible water-logging and localized flood-like situation.
Advice for fishermen should be strictly implemented, he said in an advisory to all district collectors.
Issuing an Orange Warning for Malkangiri and Koraput till Friday, the MeT Centre said heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at some places in these districts during the period, and cause water-logging in low-lying areas.
Similarly, heavy rainfall is likely to occur in some areas of Ganjam, Puri, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Sambalpur and Deogarh districts where ‘Yellow Warning’ has been issued, it said.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at some places of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Bolangir and Malkangiri Friday and Saturday with the weather office issuing ‘Orange Warning’ for these districts.
Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Koraput, Ganjam, Kendrapara Jajpur, Bhadrak, Sonepur, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Bargarh during the period.
The Met Centre has also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas of Nuapada, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Nabarangpur, Deogarh, Sonepur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal, Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Bargarh and Sundargarh districts Sunday and Monday.
While ‘Yellow Warning’ implies the possibility of disruption to normal life, including movement due to adverse weather conditions, ‘Orange Warning’ stands for weather conditions that have the capacity to impact the lives of the people significantly and requires the authorities to remain prepared.
(PTI)