Orissa govt ready to face another low pressure

Bhubaneswar, Aug18 (UNI) The Orissa government today geared up its machinery to face any eventuality following a low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal, about 300 km off the Orissa Coast.

This is the fifth low pressure to hit the state after the onset of monsoon this year.

Special Relief Commissioner Nikunja Kishore Sundarray told mediapersons here that five districts Mayurbhanja, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur are likely to be seriously affected due to the low pressure.

Low pressure is formed over North Bay of Bengal and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal and Bangladesh. The system is likely to move in north westerly direction in the next 24 hours.

He said heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur in the next 24 hours on the catchment areas of Subarnarekha, Budhabalang, Baitarani Brahamani and Mahanadi under its impact and cause flood in north Orissa districts.

Mr Ray said the low pressure is likely to create a situation similar to one in the first week of July when property worth lakhs of rupees were damaged and a number of people died following a flood caused due to heavy rain in the wake of a low pressure in north Orissa.

He said preparatory meetings were held in Mayurbhanja, Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Keonjhar districts and the district collectors were alerted about the situation.

Adequate relief materials have been rushed to the districts and polythenes stocked in adequate quantity to face the situation.

Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) units have been alerted and boats are kept ready to undertake the rescue and relief operations if needed.

The government employees on field duty have been asked not to take leave and remain at their respective district headquarters.

UNI