The Odisha government on Thursday issued a flood alert in four districts of the state after water levels in the Subarnarekha river rose above the danger mark. Opening the Galidhi barrage gates in Jharkhand led to the situation.

The river was reported to be flowing over the danger mark at the Rajghat area. The collectors of the Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Balasore regions have been put on alert.

Special Relief Commissioner BP Sethi said 10 Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force have been kept ready and an additional ten have been asked to standby as reserve to deal with a possible flood situation. Fire services and a National Disaster Response Force unit have also been stationed in Balasore, he added.

The Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar has predicted heavy rainfall in one or two places in north Odisha in the next 24 hours.