Bhubaneswar, July 15 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a high alert for several parts of the country, predicting "extremely heavy rainfall" over Odisha and enhanced monsoon activity across 22 states over the next 60 hours, triggered by the likely formation of a low-pressure area over the North Bay of Bengal.

According to the weather office, the system is expected to intensify rainfall and convective activity over East and Northeast India, East Uttar Pradesh, and the Western Himalayan region during the next seven days.

"Under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the North Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Bangladesh, a low-pressure area is likely to form during the next 24 hours. This will lead to...