18 dists on high alert as IMD forecasts heavy rain

The state government Thursday put the Collectors of 18 districts on high alert after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in the state when a possible depression crosses its southern coast September 27, officials said.

- PNN & AGENCIES

The instructions to the districts were issued through a videoconference by Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Deoranjan Kumar Singh. All the Collectors of the southern and coastal region participated in the conference.

The government's move came in the wake of the IMD's forecast that a low-pressure area is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal. “It is likely to intensify into a depression by the evening of September 26 and will cross over South Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh by September 27 morning,” the IMD said.

The system is likely to cause extremely heavy rainfall in Koraput and Malkangiri districts, while other parts of south Odisha are also likely to experience heavy showers.