Bhubaneswar, Sept. 15: The meteorological centre here has predicted heavy rain and thundershower.

The possible development of a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal in the next 48 hours is likely to trigger shower in the city.

Effects of the impending thundershower are already being felt and more showers will follow. Such weather condition will continue till September 18 and is likely to increase thereafter.

According to India Meteorological Department, an upper air cyclonic circulation persists over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Gangetic Bengal and Odisha. This is most likely to turn into a low-pressure system.

'The cyclonic circulation persists around 5.8km above the sea level and is titling towards a southwest direction. Chances are there that it would intensify into a low-pressure and head towards the state. This will lead to rainfall in the city,' said regional Met director Sarat Chandra Sahu.

Sahu said heavy rainfall was likely to occur at one or two places along the coastal belt in the next 24 hours. The system will then head south before turning and going north again.

'The rainfall will spread across the state after September 19 and is most likely to continue till September 22,' said Sahu.

While the prediction of the weather department brings a sigh of relief for the people already reeling from humid weather conditions over the past few days, the civic body officials are worried because they need to ensure there is no waterlogging in the city following the rain.

'We have issued orders to the contractors engaged in drain construction and repair works to expedite the job and complete them on time. If they fail to meet the deadlines, they have been asked to take alternative measures to avoid clogging of the drains. Other officials concerned have also been alerted about the prediction,' said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Nayapalli resident Biren Sahu said: 'The rain will come as a relief to us since the humidity levels have been very high over the past few days. However, we are still worried about possible waterlogging.'

The city today witnessed high humidity levels in the morning and a drizzle in the afternoon. The regional meteriological centre is yet to trace the amount of rainfall the city has received today, but the maximum and minimum temperatures remained at 33.5°C and 25°C, respectively.