Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government Saturday alerted all the district collectors and municipal corporations to take all precautionary measures, keeping in view the heavy rainfall in several parts of the state predicted by the IMD.
There is a possibility of flashfloods and flood-like situations in the state due to the heavy rains, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said and asked the collectors and municipal corporations administration to take all precautionary measures.
According to IMD prediction, a cyclonic circulation lies over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha-Gangetic West Bengal coasts and extends up to 5.8 km above mean sea level tilting southward with height.
It is likely to move west-northwestward across north Odisha and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal & Jharkhand during the next two days.
The IMD said a cyclonic circulation lies over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and a cyclonic circulation is likely to be formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal around July 16. Under its impact, heavy precipitation is likely to occur from July 15 to 19 and may cause flash floods and water logging in certain areas.
Another fresh cyclonic circulation is likely to form over the Northwest Bay of Bengal around July 18, and as a result, wet spells of monsoon rainfall activity are likely to continue over Odisha with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall.
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Met source said light to moderate rain or thundershowers were very likely to occur at most places in the districts of Odisha and issued a heavy rainfall warning for the next five days. It said temporary water logging is likely in low-lying areas, and there will be the possibility of the collapse of vulnerable kutcha houses during an intense spell of rain.
The Met sources said the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack will have a few spells. Light to moderate rain/thundershower with one or two intense/heavy spells (2–3 cm per hour) of rain during the next 24 hours.
Incessant rain has lashed several parts of Odisha, including the twin city of Cuttack, since Saturday morning. Due to the rain, water logging is reported in Nayapalli, Old Town, several areas of Cuttack City, Jharsuguda, and low-lying areas of Bhubaneswar.
The Dadhinauti of Rameshwar temple on the premises of the Mausima temple in Old Town Bhubaneswar was damaged by lightning. The incident occurred while puja was going on in the temple, and several servitor and devotees were present.
The officials of the Archaeological Survey of India visited the spot. An Official said the ASI team would examine the temple after the rain stopped to assess the damage.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Saturday issued an ‘orange warning’ for heavy or intense spells of rainfall in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and several other areas of the state.
The SRC directed the officials to deploy adequate functionaries in such locations, shift people from low-lying areas to safer places, decongest the drains, and preposition water pumps and other materials to counter any eventuality if such a situation arises.
UNI