Odisha: Coastal dists on alert amid heavy rains

The Odisha government on Friday put the coastal districts on high alert as the low-pressure area intensified into a depression, causing heavy rainfall in several parts of the state, a senior official said. As a fresh spell of rain could further worsen the flood situation in the Mahanadi basin area, the state government has asked the district administrations to provide assistance to the people in the affected areas, Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena said.