Environment

A partial lunar eclipse will take place on Monday tonight which will be visible in Odisha, said Subhendu Patnaik, Deputy Director of Pathani Samanta Planetarium here.

Odisha likely to receive heavy rainfall in next 24 hours, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Saturday.

The Bhitarkanika National Park, which remained closed for three months for the breeding season of estuarine crocodiles, reopened for tourists in Kendrapara on Tuesday.

Due to heavy rain in catchment areas as well as in the Bhadrak and Jajpur district, a flash flood has occurred in river Baitarani.

The Odisha government on Sunday alerted the district collectors of six districts in view of IMD forecast of extremely heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours, which may trigger flood in the Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Brahmani rivers.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said several parts of Odisha are likely to experience heavy rainfall during the next 48 hours as a depression formed over North Bay of Bengal.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said the flood situation in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts is improving and the affected people are being served with cooked food through free kitchens.

Due to incessant rainfall, flash floods occurred in river Nagabali and Kalyani of Rayagada district on Sunday. As many as 12 villages in Kalyansinghpur and Rayagada Block have been affected.

Internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik on Tuesday staged a dharna protesting pollution in Bankimuhan (river mouth) in Puri and demanded immediate steps to clean the beach.

The population of elephants in Odisha has increased marginally to 1976 this year from 1,954 recorded in 2015 census, said Forest and Environment minister Bijayshree Routray on Monday.