Bhubaneswar, June 9: Keep your umbrellas and raincoats handy for a wet week ahead.

Pre-monsoon showers today lashed the capital with the weatherman asserting that the rainy season — which debuted in Odisha yesterday but eluded Bhubaneswar — will cover all parts of the state within the next 48 hours.

“The monsoon is on time this year. We are expecting good amount of rainfall across the state for about a week. It might increase after that,” said director of the regional meteorological centre Sarat Chandra Sahu.

Last year, monsoon arrived in Odisha on June 17, a week later than usual. On Saturday, the first showers of the southwest monsoon hit Nabarangpur, touching Koraput, Malkangiri and Gajapati next. Today, the rain gods made their entry into Puri, parts of Khurda, Kalahandi, Ganjam and Rayagada.

By the evening, the state capital recorded 10.2mm of rainfall, while in Cuttack it was a light shower, which recorded at just 1.3mm. Met officials said though the rains would mark a welcome respite from the sweltering weather, humid conditions over the next few days would result in discomfort.

“As the circulation over Odisha coast and northwest Bay of Bengal triggers rainfall all over the state, the temperature will automatically drop. But when it does not rain, high humidity levels will make people feel uncomfortable,” said Sahu.

Earlier in the day, as the skies opened up, several people on the streets were seen soaking in the rain to their heart’s content while some others scurried for cover. There was power cut in areas such as Pokhariput and Niali, on the city outskirts, following heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning.

While majority of city residents are ready to welcome monsoon with open arms, people in certain other parts of the city such as Acharya Vihar, Rasulgarh, Laxmisagar and most of Old Town do not see any reason to celebrate.

“Our battle with waterlogging during monsoon goes on year after year. Our pleas for an efficient drainage system have fallen on deaf ears,” said Shakuntala Parida, a homemaker.

However, authorities of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) said inspection squads would be formed to check waterlogging. “We are monsoon-ready. Our junior engineers would be provided with de-watering pumps. Besides, field officers have been instructed to cut the road and drain for disposal of flood water and ensure 100 per cent street light functioning during the rains,” said a BMC official.

On the other hand, agricultural scientists said the onset of monsoon at the right time would benefit farmers.

Monsoon hits Odisha on June 8
First showers in Nabarangpur
Rains to hit Bhubaneswar and Cuttack in next 48 hours
High humidity, however, will result in discomfort
Good amount of rainfall predicted for one week