Bhubaneswar, Aug 1: The regional Meteorological (MeT) office in Bhubaneswar has issued a rain alert for 21 districts in Odisha on Thursday. The MeT office also indicated that the rain is expected to continue for an additional two days.

A yellow warning for heavy rain has been issued for these 21 districts today. The Odisha State Relief Commissioner (SRC) has alerted District Magistrates accordingly. There are concerns that slum areas in the city may become submerged due to the heavy rains, and necessary pump arrangements have been made for water drainage. The government has been instructed to submit an immediate report regarding any damage caused. The intensity of rainfall is expected to decrease from August 3.

Since the beginning of the current monsoon season on June 1, Odisha has recorded a total of 489.5 mm of rain, which is 11 percent below normal. The state is expected to receive a normal rainfall amount of 550.7 mm. Malkangiri district has received more than normal rainfall, while three districts have recorded above-normal rainfall and 14 districts have recorded normal rainfall. The remaining 12 districts have experienced moderate rainfall.

In the past 24 hours, many cities in Odisha have received light to moderate rainfall. Rasgobindpur in Mayurbhanj district recorded the highest rainfall at 58.4 mm, while Parlakhemundi registered the highest maximum temperature at 35.3 degrees Celsius.

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