Bhubaneswar, Oct 29: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a red warning for Sundargarh and Bargarh districts of Odisha, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy downpours at isolated places over the next 24 hours. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph, reaching 50 kmph, are also likely.

An orange warning has been issued for 10 districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Nuapada and Balangir. A yellow warning covers 15 other districts. The alerts remain valid until 8.30 am on Friday, October 30.

The IMD has advised residents to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel during thunderstorms, seek shelter in safe buildings and stay away from trees and water bodies during lightning.

Meanwhile, the depression, a remnant of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’, lay over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha on Thursday morning. It is expected to move northwards and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area over north Chhattisgarh and adjoining northwest Odisha by evening.

Extremely heavy rainfall was recorded in parts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Boudh. Patrapur in Ganjam recorded the highest rainfall at 55 cm, followed by Sorada with 50 cm. G. Udayagiri and Mahendragarh recorded 46 cm each.

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