Bhubaneswar, Jul 20 (IANS): The Odisha government on Friday asked all the District Collectors to remain alert to meet any possible flood situation with the Met Department predicting heavy rainfall across the state in the next two days.

"Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) sources indicate that under the influence of a low-pressure area formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and associated cyclonic circulation, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in different districts with extremely heavy rainfall in some places from July 20 to 22," Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi said in a letter to District Collectors.

Directing the Collectors to respond to emergency situations, he asked them to ensure round-the-clock functioning of the district Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) and instruct field functionaries to remain present at their respective headquarters.

"Adverse situation, if any, may be promptly reported to state emergency operation centre in the office of SRC," the letter said.

Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast possibility of heavy rainfall over Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Kandhamal districts on Friday.

For July 21, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Boudh, Kalahandi, Sonepur and Ganjam districts have been kept on alert.

For July 22, extremely heavy rainfall is expected in Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts.