The southwest monsoon has finally hit Odisha with several districts such as Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur. Kalahandi, Naygarh, Khurda and Puri witnessing moderate to heavy rainfall on Thursday.

Heavy rainfall has triggered fears of flash floods with the administration gearing up to tackle the threat.

A low-pressure area developing in the Bay of Bengal is likely to create favourable conditions for advancement of the monsoon to the interior parts of the state. All the coastal districts have been put on alert because of the flood threat.

“Conditions are favourable for further advancement of southwest monsoon into the remaining part of Odisha during the next 48 hours,” said the India Meteorological Department (IMD). With a low pressure likely to form over the northwest Bay of Bengal, the monsoon aided by this is likely to cause heavy rain in many parts of the state till June 14, officials said.

Special relief commissioner P.K. Jena has asked all the district administrations and municipal corporations to gear up for a possible flood because of heavy rainfall.

“There are also chances of landslides in the hilly regions and some other parts of the state. We have asked the administration to be extremely cautious and take all possible steps for the safety and security of the people,” officials said.

The water resource department has asked all its officials not to leave the headquarters and open a round clock control room.

The department has asked its officials to carry out patrolling and inspection of all the river embankments.

In a related development, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced financial assistance to the Cyclone Yaas-hit farmers.

According to the announcement all the small and marginal farmers who have sustained losses of over 33 per cent to their crops in the cyclone will get input subsidy and their Kharif loans will be converted into medium term loans.