Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today denied the social media reports that a cyclone is going to hit Odisha.
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar clarified on Sunday that while a low-pressure area is likely to form over the west-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal on May 27, there is no indication of cyclone formation.
Dispelling the social media claims, IMD Bhubaneswar Regional Director Manorama Mohanty urged the public not to believe in misinformation circulating online.
“No cyclone is expected to form. The IMD has not issued any such alert. The reports on social media are false and not backed by official data,” she told reporters.
The IMD further explained that the low-pressure area is a common pre-monsoon phenomenon and should not be mistaken for a cyclonic system.
In the last 24 hours, several parts of Odisha recorded rainfall, with Koraput district receiving the highest at 8.2 mm (approximately 8 cm). Heavy rainfall was reported at three locations across the state.
Meanwhile, Bhawanipatna recorded the highest temperature in the state at 30°C.