Bhubaneswar: With the remnants of cyclonic storm Michaung weakening into a depression, Odisha’s southern areas received moderate rainfall Wednesday while the Gajapati district administration announced the closure of all schools due to heavy downpour, officials said.
The remnants of cyclonic storm Michaung weakened into a depression and lay centered at 5.30am of Wednesday at about 50km east-northeast of Khammam, 110km north-northwest of Gannavaram (Vijayawada) and 250 km southwest of Jagdalpur, the India Meteorological Department said.
The National Weather Agency said the system is likely to continue to move nearly northwards and weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area during the next six hours.
Though there is no more cyclone threat for Odisha, Michaung’s remnants will cause widespread rains in the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nabarangpur districts while Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada also received very heavy rainfall Tuesday night, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) office said.
The state’s average rainfall in the last 24 hours was recorded at 6.5mm with the highest downpour of 106.0mm reported in Pottangi Block of Koraput District, it said.
As per the IMD, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts will continue to receive heavy rainfall till Thursday morning.
Gajapati district administration has announced the closure of all schools Wednesday owing to heavy rains. All the primary, upper primary, high schools and Anganwadi centres will remain closed Wednesday, an official said.
Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu said that there is no more cyclone fear for Odisha as it has made its landfall in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday afternoon.
“The district authorities have been asked to submit a damage report once the rain subsides. Compensation will be provided after examining the report,” Sahu said.
However, IMD sources said that the rainfall activities will continue in the state till Wednesday evening.
The cyclone has weakened slowly after making landfall in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday. During the landfall process, the severe cyclonic storm passed with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100kmph gusting to 110kmph.
PTI