Odisha: SRC alerts Collectors about enhanced rainfall activity due to fresh low pressure

Bhubaneswar: In view of possible low pressure over north Bay of Bengal and increase in rainfall activity from August 24 to 26, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena today directed the District Collectors of to be prepared for any water logging and localized flood like situation.

While issuing an advisory to the Collectors, the SRC directed them to monitor the situation closely. Districts under orange and yellow warnings must remain prepared to meet any water logging or localised flood like situation including urban areas, the advisory mentioned, adding local flash flood in hilly areas and landslides may occur.

The SRC asked the Collectors to alert BDOs, Tahsildars and other officials including Engineers engaged in maintaining road communication. This apart, Engineers of Department of Water Resources will be alerted for prompt response to breaches on embankments and cleaning of drainage channels.

The SRC said there must be continuous watch on river embankments and vigil of low lying areas. Dewatering wherever required including urban areas may be taken up. ODRAF and State Fire services may be kept on alert.

Jena directed the Collectors to ensure functioning of control room round the clock and inform the SRC office when rainfall occurs. The situation report may be furnished and advice for fishermen must be strictly implemented, the advisory stated.

As per the special bulletin issued by IMD, a cyclonic circulation lies over Bangladesh and neighbourhood between 5.8 and 7.6 km above mean sea level. Under Its influence, a low pressure area is likely to develop over north Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood on August 24.

Due to likely formation of the low pressure area, squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph is very likely over north Bay of Bengal and along and off Odisha coast.

Day 1 (valid up to 0830 AM of 24.08.2020).

Yellow warning: Heavy rainfall very likely to occur at isolated Places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Puri and Angul.

Day 2 (valid from 0830 hrs of 24.08.2020 up to 0830 hrs of 25.08.2020):

Orange warning : Heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal.

Yellow warning: Heavy rainfall very likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Angul, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Puri, Kandhamal and Boudh.

Day 3 (valid from 0830 hrs of 25.08.2020 up to 0830 hrs of 26.08.2020)

Orange warning : Heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rainfall is likely to occur in districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar and Angul.

Yellow warning: Heavy rainfall very likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Sundargarh, Puri, Khordha, Boudh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Bolangir.

Day 4 (valid from o83o hrs of 26.08.2020 up to 0830 hrs of 27.08.2020)

Orange warning : Heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Boudh, and Bolangir.

Yellow warning: Heavy rainfall very likely to occur at isolated Places over the districts of Jajpur, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi.

Day 5 (valid from 0830 hrs of 27.08.2020 up to 0830 hrs of 28.08.2020)

Yellow warning: Heavy rainfall very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Nuapada, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Bolangir, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Nabarangpur and Keonjhar.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off Odisha coast during August 25 to 27.