Bhubaneswar: Heavy rainfall is likely to lash most parts of the state in the next 24 hours with the low pressure formed over northwest Bay of Bengal getting intensified further, predicted the Regional Meteorological Centre.
Weathermen also forecast the formation of another low-pressure system over north Bay of Bengal around July 19.
According to the latest bulletin, heavy to very heavy rainfall will take place at one or two places in Koraput, Malkangiri, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Sonepur, Rayagada, Baragarh, Kandhamal, Sambalpur and Boudh districts. Heavy rainfall is also likely to occur in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal and Cuttack.
"A strong surface wind reaching the speed of 35kmph to 45kmph is likely to prevail along and off Odisha coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea in the next 48 hours," said the bulletin.
Bhawanipatna received Sunday's highest rainfall at 202mm, while Puri stood second highest with a rainfall of 74mm followed by Titilagarh which received 58mm rainfall. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded rainfall of 2.4mm and 4mm respectively.
Heavy downpour left many areas in Rayagada marooned with floodwater from Kalyani river inundating several villages in Kalyansinghpur panchayat. As many as 25 families of the panchayat had to be shifted to safer places after the floodwater entered the villages. Communication was cut off with floodwater flowing four feet above the Bhejipadar-Kanijodi bridge in the district.
Floodwater from Dhanei river in Polsara block of Ganjam district entered the Banthapalli panchayat, forcing authorities to evacuate some 25 families from their village and rehabilitate them to a nearby school. In Kabisu-ryanagar of the district, floodwater was reportedly flowing above the Baghua bridge, leading to a disruption in communication between Berhampur and Budhambaru.
Two women were killed, while 11 others, including nine women, were injured in lightning strikes in Ganjam and Nabarangpur districts.
Lightning claimed two lives and injured nine women while they were working on a farm near Mahaguda village in Bhanjanagar of Ganjam district, while a woman and her daughter were severely injured after lightning struck them in a field at Papadahandi in Nabarangpur district.
