Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), June 7: The Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district will be closed to visitors from June 12 to September 30, as announced by Field Director Prakash Chandra Gogineni in a notice issued on Friday.
The notice mentioned that the exact date of reopening will be communicated through daily newspapers. However, the eco-tourism complexes – Jamuani, Gurudia, Kumari, Barehipani, and Ramtirtha – will remain accessible to visitors.
Every year, tourist entry to the reserve forest is prohibited from mid-June during the rainy season due to disruptions in road connectivity within the sanctuary. The STR, a prominent tourist destination in Odisha, typically reopens in the first week of November.
The India Meteorological Department predicts the southwest monsoon’s potential arrival in South Odisha within the next 2-3 days. The Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) forecasts the monsoon’s onset over Odisha by June 10, attributing it to the south-westerly wind flow from the Arabian Sea.
The CEC also provides insights into the weather conditions, mentioning warm and humid weather with temperatures below 42 degrees C in the interior districts and less than 40 degrees C in the coastal regions until June 10. However, if the monsoon’s arrival is delayed, temperatures could soar to 45 degrees C in western Odisha districts and 40 degrees C in the southern districts between June 12 and 16. Additionally, sporadic nor’westers (Kalabaisakhi) are anticipated in various parts of the state during this period, with a potentially higher frequency along the coastal belt.
