Baripada: The Mayurbhanj administration has ordered for closure of all schools in the district on Friday in anticipation of extremely heavy spells of rain under the influence of a Depression over the Bay of Bengal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning of extremely heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph at one or two places in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar on July 25.
The school authorities have been directed to shift hostel boarders, especially those living in mud-walled (kutcha) hostel buildings, to safer locations and ensure that students do not use dilapidated classrooms.
Meanwhile in Malkangiri, the district administration is coordinating with local disaster management teams to monitor flood-prone areas, stock relief materials, and establish temporary shelters as heavy downpours in the last 48 hours have led to waterlogging and flooding in several low-lying areas. Rainwater is flowing around three feet above Kanya Ashram bridge, snapping communication between Kalimela and Padia, sources said.