**Bhubaneswar: ** As Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted moderate rainfall in all the 30 districts and heavy rainfall in six districts of southern parts of Odisha due to the deep depression formed over Bay of Bengal, Odisha Government has already alerted the District Collectors to ensure that there is no crop damage while farmers have been warned and asked to get the harvested crop safely stored.
Speaking to media at the State Secretariat here today, Odisha Joint Commissioner of Relief Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said, “The deep depression formed over the Bay of Bengal was 730 km away from Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 930 km away from Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) till 5.30 am today. As per the bulletin issued by the IMD for Odisha, moderate rainfall forecast has been made for all the 30 districts on December 16,17and 18. Heavy rainfall forecast has been made for the 6 districts-Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal.”
He said, “As you know, the crop is now at the harvesting stage. If it rains as predicted, there is every possibility of heavy crop damage and loss. Keeping it in view, we have already alerted all the Collectors day before yesterday (Thursday December 13) to instruct the farmers for harvesting immediately and storing it properly in their domestic yards. Advisory written in Odia in this context has also been issued by the OUAT and Agriculture Department and it has been widely disseminated.”
“Today the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has directed all the Collectors and particularly the six districts likely to experience heavy rainfall to widely warn and inform the farmers through miking and the staffs of Line departments. It has been done to ensure that the crop is free from damage,” the Joint Commissioner of Relief informed.
Notably, IMD has issued weather forecast for all the 30 districts. Heavy rainfall warning has been issued for the State in the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal for December 17.
The deep depression is very likely to intensify further into a Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours and into a Severe Cyclonic Storm in subsequent 36 hours.
“According to Skymet Weather, the cyclonic storm would be seventh in the row and would be named as Phethai. “It is very likely to move northwestwards towards Andhra Pradesh & adjoining north Tamil Nadu coast during December 17 afternoon,” mentioned the weather warning issued by IMD.
While most of its effect will be experienced in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Odisha will also see isolated heavy rainfall cases.Heavy rainfall warning has been issued for the State in the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal for December 17.
“Light to moderate rain/thundershower is likely to occur at a few places over districts of Odisha on December 16 and at many places over districts of interior Odisha and a few places over districts of coastal Odisha on December 17 and at a few places over districts of Odisha on 18 December,” stated the bulletin.
**Also Read:** [Cyclonic Storm Brewing Over Bay Of Bengal, Heavy Rainfall Warning For 6 Districts In Southern Odisha](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/depression-over-bay-of-bengal-no-heavy-rainfall-warning-for-odisha)
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