Heavy rains have forced several districts in Odisha to close schools and colleges as the state remains on alert for the third consecutive day of heavy rains. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of heavy rains till July 7, government officials have started taking precautionary measures as water cuts and damage to infrastructure are being reported from different parts of the country.According to the state revenue department, educational institutions were closed in Cuttack, Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Bargarh districts on Monday.
Orange alert for seven regions
The IMD has issued an orange alert, asking people to prepare for heavy rains in Bargarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada and Bolangir.A yellow warning of heavy rain has also been issued for Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and Nayagarh.The Director of Meteorological Center, Bhubaneswar, Manorama Mohanty, said that the rain work is still going on due to the cyclone causing depression in the Bay of Bengal, according to PTI.
More rain until July 7
The meteorological department said 12 places in the state recorded more than 200 mm of rain 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.Revenue officials have received reports of flooding, damage to roads and bridges, and uprooting of trees in several districts.The IMD said Odisha is expected to receive light to moderate rains at most places, with heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places on July 6 and 7, and thundershowers at isolated places on July 8.The department has also advised fishermen not to enter the northwestern Bay of Bengal and the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal till July 7, while warning of strong winds reaching 60 km/h. PTI.