Bhubaneswar, Aug 26: A fresh low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal. Following this, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday forecast heavy rainfall across various parts of the state till August 29.

According to the IMD's latest bulletin, the low-pressure area is likely to move west-northwestwards and become more marked during the next two days. Under the influence of this, a red alert of extremely heavy rainfall and thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph might lash at one or two places over the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri of the state in the next few hours.

The weather agency also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in many parts of the state over the next four to five days.

As of now, hundreds of villages in Baliapal, Bhograi, Basta, and Jaleswar blocks in Balasore district have been submerged due to the overflowing of the Subarnarekha River.

Similarly, around 45 villages in the Jajpur district were inundated by floodwaters from the Baitarani River.

Many residents of Bhandaripokhari and Dhamnagar blocks in the Bhadrak district are reeling under severe hardships due to the flood.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the state Water Resources Department stated on Tuesday that the flood situation in the state had significantly improved compared to Monday.

He expressed the hope that the situation would further improve on Wednesday.

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He said that the Dasarathpur block of Jajpur district is affected the most due to the 30-ft wide breach in the Kani river, a tributary of the Baitarani River, embankment near the Kaspa panchayat of the block.