Odisha Government Alerts Districts Amidst Bay of Bengal Low Pressure Area

Odisha Government Alerts Districts Amidst Bay of Bengal Low Pressure Area. Image/NDTV

Preparedness Amidst Weather Warnings

The Odisha government has sounded the alarm as a low-pressure area forms in the Bay of Bengal, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting heavy rainfall across the state. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahoo issued directives to certain districts to take all necessary precautions in response to the emerging situation. This move comes after a review meeting held by the SRC to address the potential impact of the low-pressure area. District collectors, convened in the state capital for an ECI meeting, were briefed on the IMD’s forecasts and advised to take prompt actions as needed.

IMD’s Rainfall Forecast

According to the IMD’s bulletin, the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal has intensified further, leading to expectations of heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. South Odisha, north Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are anticipated to experience substantial rainfall. In the preceding period, the state has already witnessed extremely heavy rainfall in four locations and heavy rainfall in 16 locations.

Recorded Rainfall Figures

Some of the places where extremely heavy rainfall was recorded include Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district (156.4 mm), Daringbadi in Kandhamal district (128 mm), Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district (117 mm), Atabira in Bargarh district (116 mm), Tikabali in Kandhamal district (114 mm), and Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district (102 mm) as of 8.30 am on Wednesday.

Warnings Issued by IMD

The IMD had previously issued a Red warning of scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) with isolated extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm) for specific districts by 8.30 am on Wednesday. It had also issued an Orange Warning (Be Prepared) for heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) in certain districts. Furthermore, an Orange Warning was extended from 8.30 am on Wednesday to the same time on Thursday, along with a Red warning for specific districts. On Wednesday, the IMD also issued an Orange Warning for several districts, extending to Thursday and Friday.

Administrative Preparedness

In response to these warnings, the SRC office has instructed districts under red, orange, or yellow warnings to prepare their administrative machinery to handle any potential emergencies. The release also outlined steps to be taken in case of overtopping of roads/bridges, damage to houses, and falling trees due to heavy rain.

Railway Services Disrupted

In related developments, train services were affected in Koraput district after a substantial boulder fell onto the tracks between Tigiri and Laliguma under Waltair Division. Mudslides and submersion of railway tracks have also been reported in Koraput and Rayagada districts due to continuous rain. Authorities promptly dispatched teams to clear tracks and address these issues.

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