Bhubaneswar: The regional office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here on Friday issued orange and yellow alerts for heavy rain in several parts of Odisha today as the cyclonic circulation lying over central parts of interior Odisha and adjoining Chhattisgarh has intensified.
According to the weather office, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri districts are likely to experience moderate thunderstorms with lightning and intense/heavy spells of rain in the next three hours. Lightning strikes and water-logging in low-lying areas are likely, the IMD said.
A yellow alert for light to moderate rain along with thundershowers has been issued for some areas in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts. People have been advised to keep a watch on the weather and accordingly move to safer places to protect themselves from lightning strikes.
In addition, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected today day in Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Cuttack and Dhenkanal.
According to the weather office, heavy rain is unlikely in Odisha from tomorrow as the cyclonic circulation is expected to move west-northwestwards to lie over central parts of Madhya Pradesh from September 8-10.
Moreover, the intensity of rain in Odisha is likely to increase from September 12.
Meanwhile, the water level has crossed the danger mark in the Jalaka river and villagers in Suliapada, Morada, Chitrada, and Rasgobindpur in the Mayurbhanj district are at risk of flash floods.
The danger line of the overflowing Jalaka river was 5.50 metres but it crossed this line raising an alarm following the heavy downpour on Thursday.
