post news network
Bhubaneswar, August 4: Incessant rains threw life out of gear in several parts of the state Thursday even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast more rainfall during the next 24 hours.
“A low-pressure area lies over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of coastal Orissa and West Bengal. The associated upper air cyclonic circulation extends up to mid-tropospheric levels,” said an IMD bulletin.
Rain or thundershowers are thus likely to occur in the state over the next 24 hours, the bulletin said.
“Extreme heavy rainfall is likely to occur at some places over interior Orissa, while heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over coastal Orissa during the next 24 hours,” it said. Gusty surface winds with speed reaching 35 to 45 kmph and gusting up to 55 kmph may prevail along and off Orissa coast. The sea condition would be moderate to rough, IMD said.
Heavy rains triggered by a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal lashed several parts of the state, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Water logging added to the problems of the citizens and forced people to stay indoors.
According to IMD reports, Sambalpur received the highest rainfall of 248.3 mm between 8.30 am Wednesday and 5.30 pm Thursday. This was followed by by 175.6 mm at Hirakud, 162.6 mm at Angul, 140 mm at Talcher, 88.8 mm at Cuttack, 87 mm at Malkangiri, 76.2 mm at Bhubaneswar, 63 mm at Bhawanipatna, 54.2 mm at Daringbadi and 53.8 mm at Puri.
The local Met office has predicted that heavy rainfall would continue for another 24 hours.
