IMD warns of heavy rain in state between Aug 12 and 14

Bhubaneswar: India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued an alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over several districts in the state between Aug 12 and 14, as a low-pressure area is likely to form over the north-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal around Aug 13.

"Multiple districts are under orange warning from Aug 12 to 14, with Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamal, and Nabarangpur expected to experience intense rainfall and gusty surface winds reaching 30–40 kmph," said Dr Sanjeev Dwivedi, weather scientist at IMD's regional centre in Bhubaneswar.

The IMD has also issued a yellow warning, cautioning residents about heavy rain and thunderstorms, and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the south Odisha coast on Aug 13 and 14. The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has directed district administrations to be for emergency response and urged people to stay indoors during lightning and thunderstorms, avoid taking shelter under trees, and keep away from electrical conductors.