Odisha: As rain fades, water level in rivers fall

BHUBANESWAR: A day after some rivers crossed the danger mark, the water level either fell or stood steady on Wednesday. Water level also fell in the Jalaka river in Balasore district, which was in spate, though it stood above the danger level at 6.15 metres till last reports came in, official sources said.
Similarly, Baitarani and Budhabalanga witnessed gradual fall while Subarnarekha stood steady at Jamsolaghat since noon, the official report said. The report added that only the Brahmani river saw a little rise but it was far below the danger mark. With dry weather prevailing, the water level will gradually normalise, official sources said. IMD forecast said there would be only light to moderate rain at isolated places on Thursday. The state would witness dry weather by Friday.
H R Biswas, director of IMD, regional centre, said dry weather would prevail in the state amid possibility of withdrawal of South-West monsoon from Odisha by Saturday ( October 23). He said conditions were becoming favourable for further withdrawal of monsoon from remaining parts of Odisha along with rest parts of north-east and from few more pockets.
A bulletin from IMD said the South-West monsoon is likely to withdraw from entire country by October 26. Biswas said the low pressure that caused widespread rain in north Odisha, meanwhile has become less marked.
IMD's rainfall report of last 24 hours recorded said moderate rain occurred at many places over North and some south coastal pockets.