BHUBANESWAR, July 11, 2013: Several parts of Odisha, including the capital city Bhubaneswar, received substantial rainfall on Thursday under the impact of a fresh low pressure formed in the Bay of Bengal near the state’s coastline. Local weather office has predicted more rainfall across the state during the next two days as the system is expected to be intensified further. 

“Rain and thundershower will occur at most of the places in the state during the next 48 hours. In one or two places, the rainfall will be heavy to very heavy,” a Met department press release said on Thursday evening. 

Malkangiri town in southern Odisha tribal-dominated district of Malkangiri received maximum 42 mm of rainfall on Thursday followed by 41 mm in Gopalpur in another southern district of Ganjam and 15 mm at Baripada in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.

Capital Bhubaneswar recorded 5.2 mm of rain. The low pressure triggered monsoon rain brought in immense discomfort to lakhs of devotees who are currently gathered in the temple town of Puri to participate in the nine day long Jagannath Rath Yatra which was flagged off on Wednesday. The coastal town received 13 mm of rainfall on Thursday. 

Soon after a spell of heavy rain on Thursday morning, Bada Danda, the Grand Road in front of the Puri temple, had a waterlog of knee deep water much to the embarrassment of the local authorities and temple officials who had claimed at a preparatory meeting that enough measures had been taken to keep it in check.

Source: Deccan Herald, DT. July 11, 2013.