Bhubaneswar: With the formation of a fresh low pressure area, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) ACS Satyabrata Sahu today warned Collectors of 14 districts to remain fully prepared to meet any possibility of heavy rainfall.
The SRC has warned the Collectors of Angul, Bargarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur & Sundargarh.
As predicted by IMD, the low pressure has formed over Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh today.
It is likely to move north-northwestwards during the next two days and become a well marked low pressure area over Bangladesh and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal.
Thereafter, it is likely to move west-northwestwards, across Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and adjoining areas during subsequent three days, the IMD said in a bulletin.
Under its influence, widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely over the state till August 20 and is very likely to occur over many districts, ACS Shri Sahu said.
In the event of such intense and continued rainfall, flash flood/ flood like situation may occur in different rivers, nullah and water logging may be experienced in different parts including urban areas, he said.
Keeping this in mind, the Collectors have been asked to instruct the field level functionaries to remain prepared to meet any eventuality including possibility of landslides in hilly areas.
The engineers have been asked to keep close watch over the embankments, especially weak/ vulnerable points in river/ canal embankments.
Flood fighting materials may be kept ready at strategic places and immediate action may be taken to prevent any breach or to close the breach, damage of roads, if any, advised the SRC.
Drainage engineers/ officials were asked to take steps to clear the congestion materials from the drainage channels for free flow of rainwater.
Further, the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are instructed to make advance arrangements for dewatering from the areas likely to face water logging.