Heavy rain has forced several districts in Odisha to shut schools and colleges as the state remains on alert for the third consecutive day of monsoon showers. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of more rain till July 7, district administrations have begun taking precautionary measures as waterlogging and damage to infrastructure are reported from different areas.According to the state revenue department, educational institutions remained closed in Cuttack, Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Bargarh districts on Monday.
Orange alert for seven districts
The IMD has issued an orange warning, asking people to be prepared for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Bargarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada and Bolangir districts.A yellow warning for heavy rainfall has also been issued for Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and Nayagarh.Director of the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Manorama Mohanty, said the rainfall activity has continued because of an active monsoon system triggered by a depression over the Bay of Bengal, according to PTI.
More rain likely till July 7
The weather department said 12 places in the state recorded more than 200 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Monday. Sonepur received the highest rainfall at 328.4 mm, followed by Ullunda in Sonepur district with 290 mm.The revenue department has received reports of waterlogging, damaged roads and bridges, and uprooted trees from several districts.The IMD said Odisha is likely to receive light to moderate rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations on July 6 and 7, and heavy rainfall at isolated places on July 8.The department has also advised fishermen not to venture into the northwest Bay of Bengal and along the Odisha and West Bengal coasts till July 7, while warning of squally winds reaching up to 60 kmph, according to PTI.