Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) [India], July 4 : The Water Resources Department of the Odisha government has said that the flood situation in the state is currently under control, with water levels of several rivers receding.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sagar Mohanty, the Engineer In Chief, Procurement in Water Resources Department of the Odisha government, said, "Currently, the flood situation in Odisha is under control. Almost all the rivers are receding, including Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga, and Jalaka. The flood levels are currently below the danger level... The water that has entered the locality is also receding, and the river is falling..."
For today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in the districts of Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Baragarh.
A yellow alert, or "watch," has been issued for the districts of Nuaparha, Balangir, Subarnapur, Baula, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday that the state has already received 29 per cent of the excess rainfall.
"In the last 24 hours, there was widespread rainfall activity over the state, with five places recording very heavy rainfall, and seven places recorded heavy rainfall activity. Till today, 305.8 mm rainfall has occurred across the state... There is 29% excess rainfall already," said Manorama Mohanty, Director, IMD Bhubaneswar.
She added, "An upward cyclone circulation lies over North Odisha and the adjoining area of West Bengal... Odisha is likely to experience good rainfall activity, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected over the state. Over the next 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh and Sambalpur... Widespread rainfall activity is very likely over the next 24 hours..."
On June 30, Odisha Minister of Rural Development Rabi Narayan Naik had said, "... Districts like Balasore & Mayurbhanj have been affected more, and the Odisha government has announced the closure of all the schools in these areas because of the amount of rain these areas are receiving..."