Bhubaneswar : With the formation of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Satyabrata Sahu has issued an advisory to the Collectors to remain prepared to meet any possibility in view of heavy rainfall.
As predicted by IMD, the low pressure has formed over central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal today. The associated cyclonic circulation extends upto mid-tropospheric levels tilting southestwards with height. It is likely to become more marked and move northwestwards towards Odisha coast during next two days.
Under its influence, widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely over the district of Odisha during July 18 to July 22 and is very likely to occur over many districts, the SRC.
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, instruct the field level functionaries to remain prepared to meet any eventuality including possibility of landslides in hilly areas,” Shri Sahu wrote to the Collectors.
The engineers in charge have been asked to keep close watch over the embankments, especially weak, vulnerable points in river and canal embankments.
The Collectors have been asked to keep the flood fighting materials ready at strategic places and immediate action may be taken to prevent any breach or to close the breach, damage of roads, if any.
Drainage engineers and officials were asked to take steps to clear the congestion materials from the drainage channels for free flow of flood/ rain water.
Further, the ACS asked the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to make advance arrangements for dewatering from the areas where water logging may occur during the heavy rainfall.
As per the forecast made the IMD centre, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 cm 20 cm) would occur in the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Khurda, Nayagarh and Puri today.
Predicting heavy to heavy rainfall would occur in Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Boudh and Puri districts on Friday.