Bhubaneswar: Parts of Odisha were lashed by heavy rain under the influence of a deep depression which made landfall in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh Thursday, officials said.
Amid fears of floods and landslides in south Odisha due to the downpour, the state government sent two senior ministers to the region to oversee the arrangements made to deal with the situation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that the intensity of rainfall will increase as the system is likely to enter Odisha near Koraput this afternoon or evening. It said downpour would continue for the next two days.
According to the IMD, a deep depression is a weather condition which is more intense than low pressure and less than a cyclonic storm.
An average of 70 mm of rainfall has been received in the state in the last 24 hours till 8.30 am this morning, with Seimiliguda in Koraput district recording the highest at 193.9 mm, IMD sources said.
The weather office has issued a ‘red warning’ (take action), predicting over 20 cm of rainfall in Nabarangapur district. Six other districts — Baragada, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput and Malkangiri have been placed under ‘orange’ alert (be prepared), forecasting heavy rainfall in the range of 12-20 cm over the next 24 hours.
A ‘yellow’ warning (be aware) has been issued for nine other districts — Baleshwar, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Kandhamal and Rayagada for the possibility of 7-11 cm of heavy rainfall.
In view of the situation, the state government has sent Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Rabindra Narayan Naik to Koraput district and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik to Gajapati to monitor the situation and assist the district administrations, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said.
Pujari said the ruling BJP has also asked party MLAs whose constituencies have been identified as vulnerable to visit their respective areas.
“We are well prepared for the situation, with the men and machines deployed at the strategic locations. As per Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s instructions, the administration is working towards the goal of a ‘zero casualty’ mission,” Pujari said.
The Water Resources Department, in a statement, said that in view of heavy rainfall, officials have intensified night patrolling and field-level vigilance at strategic locations across the state.
Engineering officers and field staffers are maintaining a close watch on critical water infrastructure, it said.
The IMD said squally weather conditions will prevail along the coastal areas with wind gusting to 70 kmph, and urged fishermen not to venture into the sea till Friday morning.
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