Even as rain and cold threw normal life out of gear in the State, the Regional Office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here on Friday forecasted that light to moderate rainfall or thundershower is very likely to occur at many places across the State for the next three days.
This would subsequently lead to fall in minimum temperature as soon as the rain subsides, said the weather office.
In view of the situation, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has advised the district Collectors to ensure that the farmers shift their harvested paddy to safe places and properly store it as to avoid any loss or damage due to rain. Also, necessary measures should be taken by farmers to protect the paddy in mandis, if any, against rain.
Besides, the SRC has directed to keep all shelters, school buildings open at night for homeless and needy people to protect them from the cold condition.
On Thursday and Friday, moderate to heavy rainfall under the impact of a trough line lashed several parts of the State causing damage to standing crops and harvested paddy stocked in farmlands and mandis.
There were reports on damage to paddy crops in Baleswar, Nuapada, Subarnapur and several other districts. Farmers have reportedly suffered considerable losses, as the rain damaged standing crops, along with harvested paddy stocks stashed in open fields.
State revenue and disaster management minister Sudam Marndi said that the Collectors have been asked to make a thorough assessment of the affected areas and then the extent of crop damage, if any, would be ascertained.
According to the latest forecast, there would be a fall in minimum or night temperature by 4 to 5 degree Celsius after 48 hours. Light to moderate rain or thundershower is very likely to occur at many places over the districts of north Odisha, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Sonepur and at a few places over the rest of the districts.
The IMD has also warned of thunderstorm with lightning at some places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Angul, Bhadrak, Baleswar, Jajpur, Koraput, Cuttack, Khordha, Subarnapur, Boudh and Sundargarh districts.