Monsoon likely to hit Odisha coast by June first week

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 14:

The southwest monsoon is likely to hit Odisha coast by June 8 as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted early onset of monsoon this year.

The southwest monsoon would reach the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the next three or four days and would hit the Odisha coast by June 8, sources said.

“The southwest monsoon is likely to reach the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the next three or four days and hit Odisha by June 8. A low pressure trough will develop over south Bay of Bengal and south Andaman Sea in next 24 hours, which will be favourable for the onset of the monsoon,” a MeT official said.

Under the impact of low pressure, coastal Odisha would experience rainfall from Wednesday (May 18), the official added.

Meanwhile, mercury in several parts of the state relented following rain and thundershowers in some parts of interior Odisha.

On the other hand, the official sunstroke death toll in the state remained at 17 of the over 180 suspected heat-related deaths scrutinized by the Special Relief Commissioner’s office.

It may be mentioned here that the showers would bring some cheer to the agrarian community as half the state stared at a drought-like situation this year. Besides, several farmers committed suicide owing to scanty rainfall and loan burden.