Finance
On Sunday, the Odisha government advised collectors in many districts to be prepared for any eventuality due to heavy rain caused by a deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), in a letter to district collectors under a ‘Yellow’ warning, has directed them to keep the administrative machinery ready for any eventuality.
The SRC issued a notification based on the Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) mid-day forecast, which predicted significant rainfall between August 6 and August 9, 2024.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a ‘Yellow’ warning for the districts of Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Khordha, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur, anticipating the possibility of heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) from 8:30 am on August 6 to 8:30 am on August 7.
Meanwhile, thunderstorms with lightning are expected in one or two locations in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, and Rayagada.
Similarly, from 8:30 a.m. on August 7 to 8:30 a.m. on August 8, the IMD predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) in one or two places across the districts of Cuttack, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur, and Deogarh, as well as heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) in Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Khordha, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, and Sonepur.
The weather office predicts significant rainfall in the districts of Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Bargarh, Sonepur, Bolangir, Nuapada, Angul, Dhenkanal, and Jharsuguda.
Low-lying areas in cities may experience flooding, and roads and drains may get swamped. The ULBs must keep the drains/stormwater channels clear, and adequate de-watering pumps may be deployed as needed, according to the official letter from the SRC.
Advice to fisherman should be strictly followed.
Collectors have been required to submit an urgent report on any damage caused by excessive rainfall to the government.
