Weather Alert / Odisha Transport Dept Issues High Alert Amid Heavy Rain

Bhubaneswar, Sep 22: With the India Meteorological Department forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts of Odisha on September 23 and 24, the state’s Commerce and Transport Department has announced a series of precautionary measures to ensure commuter safety, officials said on Tuesday.

Acting on the instructions of Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have been placed on high alert. Officials have been directed to restrict vehicular movement in areas where waterlogging or strong currents make travel unsafe.

Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur convened a video conference with RTOs to coordinate emergency responses and road safety measures. Control rooms will remain active round‑the‑clock, with district administrations, police, road construction agencies, and other stakeholders maintaining constant communication.

Sensitive locations such as submerged roads, culverts, underpasses, hilly stretches, and landslide‑prone areas will be closely monitored. Traffic will be immediately halted on unsafe routes, with vehicles diverted to safer alternatives. Night patrols will be intensified along vulnerable corridors in coordination with police and highway authorities.

To aid stranded commuters, cranes and recovery vehicles will be deployed near sensitive points on national highways. Emergency services including fire brigades, medical teams, NHAI units, and road agencies will remain on standby. Toll plazas have been instructed to disseminate safety advisories to drivers and passengers.
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Motorists have been urged to drive at safe speeds, maintain adequate distance from other vehicles, and avoid risky overtaking, especially during night hours. RTOs will share route‑specific information on road closures, diversions, and safe shelters with transport associations, bus operators, taxi unions, school transport managers, and the public through media and social platforms.

The department has appealed to all road users to remain vigilant, follow official advisories, and avoid travel on unsafe stretches during the spell of heavy rain.