Hans News Service Bhubaneswar

TheIMD has forecast heavy rain in 22 districts of Odisha on Thursday under the influence of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal. The weather office has issued a ‘red warning’ (take action) for Kalahandi and Kandhamala districts, predicting extremely heavy rainfall.

Under the influence of the upper air cyclonic circulation over northern Bay of Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh, a low-pressure area has been formed over the region at 5.30 am on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin.

The IMD has issued an ‘orange warning’ (be prepared to take action) for Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and Ganjam districts for the day. Besides, heavy rainfall is expected in the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghapur, Kataka, Kenjduhar, Mayurbhanj, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Malkangiri, Puri, Khordha, and Nayagada during the day.

A ‘yellow warning’ (be aware) has been issued for these 15 districts for Thursday. In view of the warning issued by the weather office, the Mayurbhanj Collector ordered the closure of all government and aided schools on Thursday as a precautionary measure, an official said. Private schools were asked to suspend their classes after 10 am, officials said.Forecasting similar weather conditions for the next two days, the IMD has issued a heavy rain warning for 10 districts for Friday and four districts for Saturday.

As sea conditions would remain very rough, the weather office has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along the West Bengal-Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast till September 11. Local cautionary signal No. III (LC-3) has been hoisted at all ports of Odisha.