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Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression on Saturday, a deep depression on Sunday and a cyclonic storm by Monday morning. The system is likely to move towards the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coast, with a possible landfall on the morning of October 28. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the exact location and time of landfall would be indicated after the system consolidates into a depression. He said the weather system is likely to continue intensifying as it moves west-northwestwards over the sea. System’s likely course The low-pressure area formed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday morning. It is expected to concentrate into a depression on October 24 and strengthen into a deep depression on October 25. By the morning of October 26, the system is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it is likely to move west-northwestwards and approach the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast around October 28 morning. Wind speed over the southeast Bay of Bengal was recorded at 35-45 kmph on Friday. It may rise to 55-65 kmph, gusting to 75 kmph, on Saturday, and reach up to 90 kmph by October 26. Also Read: Odisha Prepared To Face Possible Cyclone, No Need To Panic: Minister Suresh Pujari Rain alerts The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall at many places across coastal Odisha on October 26. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places on October 27, while extremely heavy rainfall may occur at isolated places on October 28. Heavy to very heavy showers may continue at isolated places on October 29. A red warning has been issued for Puri, Ganjam and Gajapati districts from October 27 to October 28. The red warning has also been extended to Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts for October 28. A yellow alert has been issued for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts for October 26, with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds likely.

Bhubaneswar, Oct 23: The Odisha Uniformed Services Staff Selection Commission (OUSSSC) has invited online applications for 7,268 vacancies under the Combined Uniformed Services (Below Graduate Level) Examination, 2026. The recruitment covers Constable (Civil), Constable (Communication), Constable (OISF), Firefighter, Firefighting Driver, Driver PMT and Traffic Constable posts. Important Dates Online registration began on October 23, 2026, and will continue till November 12, 2026 (10 pm). The last date for submission of the final application is November 13, 2026 (10 pm). Vacancy Details According to the notification, the vacancies include 4,219 posts of Constable (Civil), 2,212 posts of Constable (OISF), 300 posts of Constable (Communication), 317 Firefighter posts, 154 Driver PMT posts, 62 Firefighting Driver posts and four Traffic Constable posts. Women and transgender candidates are eligible for all notified posts except Firefighter, Firefighting Driver and Driver PMT. Eligibility Criteria The prescribed educational qualification varies from Matriculation to Higher Secondary (+2), depending on the post. The age limit ranges from 18 to 26 years for Constable (Civil), 18 to 23 years for Constable (Communication), Constable (OISF) and Driver PMT, 18 to 25 years for Firefighter and Firefighting Driver, and 21 to 32 years for Traffic Constable. Eligible reserved-category candidates will receive age relaxation as per norms. Candidates must also fulfil the prescribed physical standards and medical fitness requirements. Selection Process The selection process will comprise a written examination, Physical Measurement Test (PMT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), driving test wherever applicable, medical examination and document verification. The common written examination will carry 100 marks and will have negative marking. Additional skill-based tests will be conducted for Constable (Communication), Driver PMT and Firefighting Driver posts. Examination Fee Candidates belonging to categories other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will have to pay an examination fee of Rs500. The Commission has stated that the fee will be refunded to candidates who appear in the written examination. Click here for official notification Applications can be submitted online through the Commission’s official website, ousssc.odisha.gov.in .