Low pressure again, IMD forecasts heavy rains

Bhubaneswar: The IMD on Saturday forecast heavy rainfall in Odisha in the next five days as a low pressure has formed in the Bay of Bengal. The IMD in its evening bulletin said the low pressure area developed at 8.30 am on August 8 in the Bay of Bengal.

“Under its influence, extremely heavy rainfall is expected to take place at isolated places over parts of north and west Odisha,” the IMD said. Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Director Manoranma Mohanty said that the IMD has issued an “orange warning” (Be prepared to take action) of heavy to very heavy rainfall for some places over the districts of Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada and Sambalpur by 8.30 am on Sunday. It also forecast heavy rainfall in the remaining 26 districts.

The IMD has also forecast rainfall and thunderstorm activities in parts of Odisha till August 15, Mohanty said, adding that lightning and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph may occur at isolated places over a large number of districts across the State, including coastal, northern and southern regions.

Meanwhile, Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday asked the people of the State to remain vigilant in view of the IMD forecast. “All the people, particularly those living in north and interior parts of the State, should remain vigilant to the upcoming weather conditions because they have recently faced flood situation. This low pressure comes when the flood water is still stagnant in certain pockets of the north Odisha districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak and Jajpur,” Pujari told reporters. “Though rainwater caused problems in some areas, the situation is well under control,” he said. Pujari said that most of the rivers were flowing below the warning level even as the water level in three rivers -Jalaka, Bansadhara and Rushikulya – was rising. The minister assured the people that the State government was well prepared to face the calamity if any.

“The personnel of ODRAF, NDRF and Fire Service were well prepared for the rescue and relief operations, if required,” the minister said.