Baripada, Mar 22: The Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district will remain shut for tourists today and tomorrow in view of heavy rainfall alert in the region.

Due to forecasts of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in the Mayurbhanj district, Similipal will remain closed to tourists today and tomorrow (March 22 and 23), informed Similipal Tiger Reserve director Prakash Chand Gogineni.

Worth mentioning, Kalbaisakhi storm swept several districts across the state. Although the Nor’wester rain brought much-needed relief from the ongoing heat wave, it has caused a widespread damage in Mayurbhanj district.

According to the India Meteorological Department forecast, rainfall in many places is likely to continue for next two days. Besides, the IMD has issued an orange alert for the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Kendrapada.

The national park, a major tourist destination of Odisha, usually reopens from the first week of November.

Spread over 2,750 square kilometres, the reserve has varieties of plant species and 96 types of orchids. It is home to 42 species of mammals, 242 varieties of birds and 30 reptile categories.

Besides rare melanistic tigers, Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, Asian elephants, sambar, barking deer, gaur, jungle cat, wild boar, four-horned antelope and giant squirrels are also found in it.

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