BHUBANESWAR: With heavy rains lashing northern districts and more showers predicted, the State Government on Sunday alerted Collectors of six districts for flood in Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Brahmani rivers.The warnings came in after the India Meteorological Department forecast that extremely heavy rainfall may occur over next 48 hours which may leave the rivers in spate in Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh.
The Collectors have been asked to be in readiness to face any eventuality and ensure that field functionaries are in their respective positions.In view of the showers in the catchments, water level in the rivers has been on the rise. Brahmani was showing a steady trend at Jenapur with the gauge reading 18.60 m against the warning level of 22 m.Baitarani was steadily rising and at Anandpur, it read 34.72 m against the warning level of 37.45 m. At Akhuapada, the river was flowing at 16.43 m against the warning level of 17.33 m.
Similarly, Budhabalanga was rising too. The river was flowing at 4 metre level at NH 5 against the warning mark of 8.13 m. Similarly, Subaranrekha was rising at Jamsholaghat but falling at Rajghat even as the weather office said, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in a few places of districts like Bhadrak, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Dhenkanal, Bargarh and Sonepur.The IMD’s prediction came as the upper air cyclonic circulation over Gangetic West Bengal and neighbourhood is all set to result in a low pressure during next 24 hours. Besides, the axis of monsoon trough passes through Jaisalmer, and northeast Bay of Bengal.
Under influence of these conditions, rain and thundershowers are likely to occur at most places of North Odisha and many parts of South Odisha districts during next 24 hours. The showers are expected to continue upto July 26.The weather office warned that extremely heavy rainfall (210 mm or more) may occur at some places in Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Balasore with heavy to very heavy showers at one or two places in Bhadrak, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Bargarh and Sonepur during next 24 hours. Similar heavy rain is likely to continue till middle of next week.
In coastal districts of Khurda, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh, Cuttack and Puri, intermittent showers with a spell or two of heavy rain is likely to continue during next 24 hours and continue upto July 25.The weather office has warned fishermen to be cautious while venturing into sea along and off Odisha coast as moderate to rough conditions are likely to prevail due to south-westerly wind flowing with speed reaching 40 km to 45 km per hour gusting to 55 km occasionally.