Chief minister Naveen Patnaik oversees relief operations at the flood-hit Oleipada village in Jajpur. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 19: The possibility of rainfall in the southern districts next week has worried the administration as it might affect restoration in the cyclone-hit zones of the state.

Though the southwest monsoon has withdrawn itself from the state except a few coastal districts, director of regional meteorology department S.C. Sahoo said the low pressure off the Tamilnadu coast was likely to develop into a deep depression.

Under its impact, there is also a possibility of heavy rainfall in southern districts between October 23 and 27.

Sahoo, however, ruled out the possibility of another cyclonic storm in the state.

Chief minister Naveen Patanik today made an aerial visit to the flood-hit areas of Jajpur and Bhadrak districts. Accompanied by chief secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, Naveen landed in Jajpur and visited Oleipada and Bindhana.

He spoke to some affected people and distributed relief materials there. Later, he reviewed the situation at Jajpur circuit house.

Naveen also visited Rajiv Seva Kendra at Dhusuri in Bhadrak to oversee the ongoing relief operations.

Power and water supply is yet to be restored in the southern district of Ganjam, which has been devastated by Phailin last week.

After Phailin hit Ganjam coast on October 12 night, north Odisha experienced a flood fury following torrential rain in the upper catchment areas of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

More than 1.32 crore people at 18,374 villages in 171 blocks of 18 districts have been affected by the twin calamities, which damaged more than 4.19 lakh houses and crops on 6.71 lakh hectares.

Special relief commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said: “Though there is a likelihood of rain in the southern districts under the impact of depression off Tamilnadu coast, there is nothing to panic as there would be no cyclonic storm.”

He, however, admitted that the ongoing restoration might be affected because of the rain.

The special relief commissioner, however, said situation was heading towards normality in the cyclone and flood-affected areas.

“Most of the affected people have already returned home. However, the relief operations will continue till October 22,” he said.

Union home secretary Anil Goswami is scheduled to visit the state tomorrow to make an on-the-spot assessment of the damaged caused by the twin disasters.

He is scheduled to visit Phailin-ravaged Ganjam and flood-hit Balasore before holding a discussion with the state government officials.

The state government has sought an advance grant of Rs 1,000 crore from the National Calamity Response Fund for undertaking restoration in the Phailin-affected areas.