Heavy rain lashes Odisha; forecast predicts more downpour

Heavy rain lashed parts of Odisha on Monday as a cyclonic circulation that had formed over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a low-pressure area, the Met office said.

Under its influence, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected across the state till Wednesday. The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are likely to witness one or two intense spells of rain on Tuesday.

The weather system, which took shape over the northwest Bay of Bengal in the morning, is likely to intensify further into a well-marked low-pressure area over the next 24 hours while moving towards the Odisha coast, the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre said.

Also Read: Mangrove key to coast conservation; Odisha shows big gains in cover

Fisherfolk shouldn’t venture off the Odisha coast on Tuesday due to possible squally weather with a gusty wind speed of 40-50 kph over the northwest Bay of Bengal, the Met department said.

Mathili in Malkangiri district received the highest rainfall of 84 mm over a 24-hour period till 8.30 am, followed by 82.3 mm at Lamtapur in Koraput and 79 mm at Tentulikhunti in Nabarangpur.

Heavy rain pounded Bhubaneswar, Khurda town, Talcher, Chandbali among other several places, since Monday morning. The state received an average rainfall of 23.1 mm in the last 24 hours.

The Met department issued an orange alert of very heavy rain in nine western Odisha districts, including Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Jharsuguda, on Tuesday. There is a possibility of landslides in hilly areas, wall collapse of vulnerable houses and waterlogging in low-lying regions.

Also Read: Archaeological remains of Puri Jagannath Temple ‘destroyed’: ASI

Heavy rain can also occur at a few places in Cuttack, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, the Met office said.

The weatherman predicted heavy to very heavy showers in several districts of western Odisha on Wednesday.

(With Agency inputs)