Cyclone Komen to cause heavy rain in next 48 hours

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is likely to get heavy rain in the next 48 hours, the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) said on Thursday even as water levels in several rivers in north Odisha started receding owing to a let up in rain in the last 24 hours.
The downpour expected on Friday and Saturday will be caused by cyclonic storm 'Komen' formed over the Bay of Bengal.
"The cyclonic storm, Komen, lay centred 440 km east to Balasore and crossed Bangladesh coast on Thursday afternoon. After landfall it would move west-northwestwards and weaken gradually. Under its influence, rain or thundershower would occur at many places over Odisha, especially in Mayurbhanj district, during the next 24 hours," said director of Indian Meteorology Department, Bhubaneswar Centre, S C Sahu.
Met sources said heavy rain was likely to occur at several places in coastal Odisha on July 31 and August 1 as the cyclonic storm would move towards India. The state recorded the maximum rainfall of 12 mm at Sundergarh on Thursday.
The met office has also forecast squally surface wind speed reaching up to 70kmph along and off the Odisha coast in the next couple of days. The Sea will be very rough. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, an IMD bulletin said.
The state government has asked collectors of five north and coastal districts — Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Keonjhar — to remain alert and watchful of the IMD report on the impact of cyclonic storm 'Komen'.
Breaches in the embankments of a number of north Odisha rivers, including Baitarani and Budhabalang, have flooded most parts of five districts of the state. More than 4 lakh people have been affected so far.