Heavy rain prediction triggers flood threat

BHUBANESWAR: The severe cyclonic storm Yaas has triggered heavy rainfall in most districts of coastal Odisha leading to the threat of flooding. Five blocks in the state recorded more than 100 mm rainfall while over 30 blocks have recorded rainfall between 50 to 100 mm on Tuesday. The IMD has predicted that some districts may witness more than 200 mm rainfall as the cyclone passes through the state.
“We have issued a red alert for heavy rain in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur. Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district has recorded the maximum rainfall of over 150 mm on Tuesday,” said director of IMD’s regional centre at Bhuabneswar, H R Biswas. “There are chances of heavy rain because the cyclone is accompanied by south-west monsoon,” Biswas pointed out.
The impending cyclone is expected to hit the state near Dhamra around Wednesday noon. The IMD has predicted inundation of low-lying areas due to heavy rainfall and asked the administration to stay prepared.
According to the IMD bulletin, heavy to very heavy rain is likely at a few places with extremely heavy showers at isolated places in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar and heavy rain at isolated places in Puri, Khurda, Angul, Deogarh, Sundergarh on Wednesday besides heavy downpour at isolated places in north interior Odisha on Thursday.
However, moderate to normal rain started in coastal districts from Monday evening while the intensity of rain and squally winds kept on increasing throughout Tuesday.