Bhubaneswar, Aug 5 (IANS): The Odisha government has asked the district collectors to keep the administrative machinery prepared to meet any possible situation that may arise in the event of intense rainfall.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena asked Collectors to closely watch and monitor the situation in view of the low pressure area formed over North Bay of Bengal.

"District administration to remain in readiness to meet any eventuality and advice for fishermen to be strictly followed," said the SRC.

The fishermen have been warned not to venture into sea along and off Odisha coast and North Bay of Bengal on August 4-5.

A low pressure area formed over North Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood would trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall at several parts of Odisha, predicted the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

It said heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Sambalpur with extremely heavy rainfall very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Keonjha, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj.

Heavy rainfall likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Anugul, Deogarh, Koraput, Nawarangpur and Kalahandi.

It said that under the influence of low pressure area and strong monsoon current, surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph very likely over north Bay of Bengal and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.