Bhubaneswar, Jul 16: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread heavy rainfall across Odisha under the influence of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, even as lakhs of devotees gathered in Puri for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, officials said on Thursday.

According to the IMD's latest bulletin, the weather system is likely to intensify into a well-marked low-pressure area and move northwestward across north Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal within the next 12 hours. Under its impact, heavy rainfall is expected in districts including Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khurdha, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, and Boudh.

The IMD has issued a red warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Sonepur, and Boudh districts over the next 24 hours. An orange alert has been sounded for Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nawrangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh.

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Banki in Cuttack district recorded the highest rainfall at 210 mm in the past 24 hours during the last 24 hours. Nine other places also reported very heavy rainfall ranging between 115 mm and 210 mm.

The IMD has cautioned that the intense showers could lead to waterlogging, disruption of traffic, and flooding in low-lying areas. Authorities have been asked to remain on alert as the state braces for more rain during the festive period.