Bhubaneswar, June 17 (UNI) A low-pressure area has formed over southwest Bangladesh and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal, which is likely to trigger heavy rainfall across several parts of Odisha over the next couple of days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

The system is likely to become more marked and move west-northwestwards during the next 24 hours.

Under its influence, several districts of Odisha are expected to receive rainfall from Tuesday onwards, the IMD stated.

The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced and covered the remaining parts of Odisha on Tuesday.

With the monsoon becoming active over the state, light to moderate rainfall occurred at most places, while heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded at one or two locations in Deogarh, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Balasore, and Jharsuguda districts.

The IMD has advised people to stay alert, take safe shelter during thunderstorms to protect themselves from lightning, and follow traffic advisories in urban areas.

It also recommended that harvesting activities be regulated judiciously. Farmers are advised to take precautions to protect their vegetables and crops.

According to the IMD bulletin, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface wind speeds reaching 30–40 kmph, along with heavy rainfall, are very likely to occur at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Bargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, and Malkangiri.

UNI DP ARN