Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast indicating that several areas in Odisha, particularly Puri where thousands of devotees are participating in the annual Rath Yatra, will experience additional rainfall due to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal.
This weather phenomenon is expected to develop into a more defined low-pressure area and shift northwestward across northern Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal within the next twelve hours, according to an IMD bulletin.
As a result, heavy rainfall is anticipated in multiple districts, including Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khurdha, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, and Boudh on Thursday.
The bulletin reported that the highest rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, until 8:30 AM Thursday, was 210 mm at Banki in Cuttack district, with nine other locations also experiencing significant rainfall ranging from 115 to 210 mm.
In the pilgrim town of Puri, rain activity is expected to persist for at least the next six hours, lasting until 4 PM, as stated by Manorama Mohanty, the Director of the IMD’s Bhubaneswar Centre.
Mohanty advised devotees to stay vigilant during thunderstorms and lightning, as many faced heavy rain to participate in the ‘Pahandi’ ritual, which involves the ceremonial procession of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath, marking the start of the nine-day Rath Yatra at the Puri temple.
The IMD further recommended that in the event of severe rain or lightning, devotees should seek shelter in permanent structures rather than under trees, electric poles, or temporary constructions.
