Moderate To Heavy Rain Likely In Odisha During Next 48 Hours 

Bhubaneswar: Several districts of Odisha could receive moderate to heavy rainfall during the next 48 hours under the influence of a deep depression moving towards coastal Andhra Pradesh, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.

According to an afternoon IMD bulletin, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Kalahandi may receive heavy rainfall on Sunday.

Isolated to heavy rainfall is also likely over Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nawarangpur, Kalahandi on coming Monday.

Rainfall activity could also be witnessed in interior districts and western part of the state such as Kandhamal, Nuapara, Bargarh, Balangir, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur.

Light to moderate rainfall is also expected to continue over a few districts on Tuesday, the Met department said.

No warning has been issued for fishermen in the state venturing into the sea.

The deep depression is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours and into a severe cyclonic storm in subsequent 24 hours, IMD said.

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Kakinada during Monday afternoon.

The Special Relief Commissioner, in a release on Friday had issued an advisory for the farmers to protect their standing crops. According to the advisory, farmers have been advised to reap the paddy in their field and bring it to a safe place. Besides, they have been asked to collect the paddy stacks kept in the field for drying to a safe place and harvest the dry paddy immediately and cover the paddy stacks kept in the backyard of their house with tarpaulin.

This apart, the SRC had asked the district administration to take necessary measures to protect the paddy kept at the mandis from the rain.