Many parts of Southern Odisha on Tuesday witnessed moderate rainfall caused by the severe cyclonic storm Michaung.

As the rainfall is likely to continue till Wednesday, the administration of Gajapati district, one of the districts expected to witness massive rainfall, has declared all the primary, upper primary, high schools and Anganwadi centres closed on Wednesday.

Gajapati district had witnessed a landslide when cyclone Titli struck the state in 2018. The incident had led to 12 deaths.

As a precautionary measure, the district administration has shut down all the schools.

Farmers in southern Odisha scrambled to transport their harvested crops to safer places to save them from possible damage due to the rainfall.

The state agriculture department has asked its officials to remain on high alert as paddy, millets and a wide range of vegetables, which are ready to be harvested, could be hit by rainfall during the next 24 hours.

The rainfall triggered by the cyclone is likely to cause wide-scale damage to harvest-ready standing crops and vegetables.

Even before the cyclone hit Odisha, a tragic incident unfolded when two farmers who had gone to keep a watch on their crops were trampled to death by an elephant. The incident occurred in the Tangi block of Khurda district, about 45km from here, on Sunday night.

Sources said upon learning about the approaching cyclone, they were worried about how to shift their harvested crops to their homes. The paddy had already been cut and was lying in the fields. They also discovered that an elephant had sneaked into their field and was causing damage to the harvested crops. As they tried to drive away the elephant, it suddenly attacked and crushed them under its feet.

While farmers remained busy safeguarding their crops, fishermen who had ventured into the sea returned to their homes. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea till Wednesday.

Meanwhile, southern Odisha and coastal Odisha sky remained overcast.

The meteorological department has predicted heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal and Puri. A yellow warning has been issued for these districts.