Low pressure over bay: Rains will continue

As heavy rains lashed lashed parts of the State, a low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal prompted the weather office to forecast more showers over the next two days.

Under the influence of the cyclonic circulation formed over north Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood, a low pressure area has formed over north-west Bay. This will trigger rain at many places over the State during the next 24 hours, the Met department said. It also predicted heavy rainfall at some places over Odisha during the next 48 hours.

The weather office also warned of strong and gusty wind with with its speed reaching 45 km per hour along and off the coast. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

The forecast came even as most parts of the State were lashed by showers for the third consecutive day. Bhubaneswar, by far, received the most rainfall with the Met office recording it at 10.6 cm in the last 24 hours. Large parts of the city and its outskirts witnessed water-logging as rainwater entered houses and schools in low-lying areas.

In Laxmi Sagar area, law and order problem cropped up after the civic authorities tried to evict encroachments on drains that caused flooding.

Central and western districts of the State also received moderate showers while catchments of all major rivers, such as Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Rushikulya received fairly widespread rainfall. The Water Resources Department also predicted more rains over the next 48 hours over some catchments.

Major reservoirs such as Hirakud, Rengali, Balimela and Upper Kolab saw a rise in the water level following the rains even as the State went through a massive power crisis.