Torrential rains affect normal life in Coastal Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Aug 5 (UNI) Torrential rains, caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, played havoc in five districts of Coastal Orissa, bringing normal life to a grinding halt at many places.

The city Cuttack witnessed the fury with a record 44 cm rainfalls during the last 24 hours, submerging vast areas of the city. The residents have a tough time as rain waters entered their houses.

The authority had to evacuate nearly 10,000 people, mostly from the slum areas, which were almost water logged.

The Municipal Corporation pressed 250 pump sets to drain out the rain water from the city and opened a channel to flush the water from the city to the Taldanada canal.

Reports reaching here today said Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Puru and Nayagarh recorded heavy rains following the depression.

While state capital recorded 26 cm of rainfall, Paradeep and Kakatpur witnessed 31 cm and 28 cm of rainfall respectively.

Weathermen said the low pressure over the North West Bay of Bengal off Orissa-West Bengal coast concentrated into a depression and lay centred at about 230 kms south east of Balasore.

They said the system was likely to intensify further and move to West North Westerly direction and cross North Orissa-West Bengal coast between Paradeep and Digha by tonight.

Under its impact, heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places with rainfall of more than 25 cms at isolated places over Orissa during next 48 hours.

Meanwhile, the authorities had hoisted the local cautionary signal number three at Paradeep, Chandbali, Puri and Gopalpur and advised the fishermen not to venture into the sea, as it would be very rough during the next 48 hours.

Met sources said squally surface winds from north westerly direction with speed reaching over 60 kmph are likely to occur along the coast.

UNI