Heavy rains lash Orissa, life affected

Bhubaneswar, Sep 17 (UNI) Several parts of Orissa experienced heavy rains during the last 24 hours bringing life to a standstill as the depression crossed Orissa coast near Chandbali last night and lay centred near Keonjhar now.

Met sources said the system is likely to move in a North Westerly direction and trigger further heavy to very heavy falls at a few places with extremely heavy falls (more than 25 cm) at isolated places in the next 24 hours.

Local Cautionary Signal Number Three had been kept hoisted at Chandbali, Puri, Paradeep and Gopalpur ports as the depression, weathermen said, would cause squalls with wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph likely to prevail along and off Orissa coast over the next 12 hours.

The sea condition is rough to very rough along and off Orissa coast during the same period and the fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

Due to the impact of deep depression, the South West Monsoon became very active over Orissa. Heavy rainfall was recorded at Akhuapada (31 cm), Jenapur (30 cm), Mundali (22 cm), Ghatgaon and Paradeep (16 cm each), Bonth, Cuttack, Naraj and Khairamal (12 cm each) and Bhubaneswar and Thakurmunda (11 cm each).

The depression caused the tidal waters submerging several villages in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada and Ballasore district forcing the authorities to shift the people from the low-lying areas to the safer places.

Large scale tidal ingress also caused havoc in the seaside villages under Mahakalpada and Rajnagar block in Kendrapada district. Reports reaching here said life across the state was badly affected as heavy rains lashed the state forcing the people to remain indoors.

Rising trend was reported in several rivers in the Mahanadi river system as incessant rains lashed the catchment areas following the deep depression.

In many places across the state the educational institutions were closed and shops downed the shutters.

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