Bhubaneswar: A low-pressure system has brought relentless heavy rain to Puri, but the downpour has done little to dampen the spirit of Rath Yatra. Pilgrims continued their sacred journey amid wet weather as the city recorded 233.3 mm of rainfall in the past 48 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department.
As per IMD data, Puri received 143.8 mm of rain between July 14 and July 15, followed by another 89.5 mm between July 15 and July 16. In the last 45 hours alone, the pilgrim town recorded 216.8 mm of rainfall.
According to Met department, rainfall is continuing in Puri city at a rate of 1-2 cm per hour. It is likely to persist for another 45 minutes to 1 hour, with a possibility of slight improvement in the subsequent period.
Despite heavy rain, lakhs of devotees thronged the Grand Road to witness the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
IMD has, meanwhile, urged devotees to stay safe, stay hydrated, and follow IMD updates during the festival.
The continuous rain is attributed to the low-pressure system currently active over the region.
