Orissa gears up to face another low pressure

Bhubaneswar, Aug 8 (UNI) Orissa government has geared up its machinery to meet any eventuality in the wake of the formation of another low pressure over the Bay of Bengal.

State Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal said as per the preliminary information received another low pressure would be formed over the Bay of Bengal on August 10.

Under its impact heavy rain would lash the north Orissa districts of Balasore, Mayurbhanja, Keonjhar, Jajpur and Bhadrak.

Mr Samal appealed to the people not to panic over the low pressure and said collectors of concerned districts have been alerted to take all precautionary measures.

The minister said around 15 lakh people have been affected in flood and rain caused due to last week's deep depression in the Bay of Bengal.

He, however, said the water level in the Baitarani river and Vanshadhara was receding. The Works department, Mr Samal said, had been instructed to make a survey and float a tender during the rainy season for the repair of Gumuda bridge over the river Vansdhara washed away by the recent flood.

The Minister said instruction had been issued to complete the bridge work by the end of May next. The bridge disrupted road communications between Berhampur and Rayagada.

The works department was also asked to improve and widen the Khilarmunda-Gunupur-Bhangi road as an alternative road on war footing and start the work from tomorrow.

A dam would be constructed as a permanent solution to the problems faced by the people due to the change of the direction of the Nagabandi river and the work would be completed within a year, he said.

Mr Samal said the possibility of an impending drought in some parts of the state died down following heavy rains. Almost all districts have received rain which he said would help for a good crop.

He asserted that there would be no drought even if it did not rain for the next 25 days.

Altogether 16 people have lost their lives in the state in rain related incidents of which 13 died of lightning.

UNI