IMD Predicts Heavy Rainfall in These States till July 26, Issues Orange Alert

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted for various districts of the state until July 26 by the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) regional office in Odisha. For today, July 23, the meteorological department has issued an orange alert for the Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Boudh, and Sonepu districts.

The districts of Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Bolangir, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, and Rayagada are extremely likely to see heavy rainfall at one or two locations.

The IMD said on Friday that the cyclonic circulation that had been over Jharkhand and its neighborhood is now over north Odisha.

Districts on orange and yellow alert were told by the special commissioner for Odisha to be ready for any incidents of water logging or landslides in hilly areas. It has been suggested to the district administrations that they keep monitoring low-lying areas.

Fishermen have been instructed not to venture out to the sea.

Rainfall Predictions over West Coast

According to the IMD, the trough remained south of its typical location for the majority of July, which caused significant rain and flooding throughout central India but over 40% less rainfall in the states along the IGP, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

Following a deficit of 8% in rainfall in June, July so far has recorded 10% excess rain but it has not supported agriculture largely.

As of Friday, the areas of Gangetic West Bengal, 51 percent of Jharkhand, 45 percent of Bihar, 61 percent of east Uttar Pradesh, and 52 percent of west Uttar Pradesh all have a 50% rainfall deficit. 

Telangana, on the other hand, has had an excess of rain of 111%, 73.0% over Marathwada, 79.0% over Saurashtra and Kutch, and 48.0% over Vidarbha, among other places. Over the nation, there is 10% more rain than usual.