WET WEATHER TO CONTINUE ACROSS STATE 

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 16: The Sunday step-out-of-home mood was spoiled as intermittent rain that began last night forced residents to stay indoors here today.

Though it did not rain heavily after the morning downpour, the sporadic drizzle that continued throughout the day was enough to dampen the Sunday spirit.

"In the morning it was raining moderately but irritatingly. Though it stopped in the afternoon, the weather remained bad and the drizzle continued. We were forced to stay inside," said Malay Ranjan Sethy, a student.

Officials of the meteorological centre at Bhubaneswar said that the rainfall would continue for the next 48 hours.

According to them, Bhubaneswar received around 7.7mm rainfall, while Cuttack's share was around 2mm since this morning.

In the state, Kakatpur in Puri got the highest rainfall today at 89mm, while 83.5mm rainfall left Paradip wet.

However, sporadic rainfall was enough to leave a few low-lying areas on the outskirts of the city waterlogged.

Those who risked the drizzle had difficulty to commute as potholes on the roads got filled with rainwater.

The rain also had its impact on the city's ongoing development projects such as laying sewer lines, expanding roads and constructing drains.

Continuous rainfall made it difficult for labourers to work in several parts of the city.

Those expecting respite from the rain will have to wait for another day.

The Met officials have predicted moderate to heavy rainfall mostly in coastal and north and interior Odisha over the next 24 hours.

"The rain in the state is due to a seasonal trap line formed over the state. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are likely to get more rain tomorrow," said Sarat Chandra Sahu, director of the Met centre.

However, he pointed out that the state had received below average rainfall this year in comparison to last year.

This year the state has received around 15 per cent less rain, which is a matter of concern for farmers who fear that their crops would be affected by it.