Weather Alert / Schools, Anganwadi Centres in Six Districts To Remain Closed Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar, Sep 24: All schools and Anganwadi centres in six districts of Odisha will remain closed on Friday, September 25, 2026, as incessant rain continues to lash the state, officials said on Thursday.

District Collectors of Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada and Kalahandi announced the closure of educational institutions, citing safety concerns as rivers swelled and water levels rose dangerously. School and Mass Education Minister Nityanand Gond said the holidays were being extended in view of the prevailing weather conditions.

Triggered by a depression over the Bay of Bengal, heavy rainfall has battered southern Odisha, leading to flooding of roads, rising river levels, and landslide risks. Officials warned that water levels could cross danger marks in the coming days, potentially resulting in flood-like situations.

The Water Resources Department clarified that no major flood situation has developed so far, but precautionary measures are being taken across vulnerable districts.

Reports from several areas highlighted the impact of the rain. In Rayagada, Gajapati, Bhadrak, Balasore and Cuttack, uprooted trees blocked roads, disrupting traffic. ODRAF and fire services teams were deployed to clear debris and restore movement. In Jajpur’s Dasharathpur, a falling tree damaged a temple and a vehicle, while in Gajapati’s Mohana block, a house wall collapse left a woman seriously injured.

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Authorities also reported boulders falling on ghat roads, old bridges submerged under floodwaters, and widespread waterlogging in low-lying areas. The administration has urged residents in hilly and flood-prone regions to remain cautious.

Koraput Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan said officials were on high alert to prevent untoward incidents. “Traffic movement has not been affected in any part of the district so far, but precautionary measures are being taken,” he said.

The State government has appealed to citizens to remain vigilant, with forecasts indicating heavy rainfall will continue for at least two more days.