Weather Alert / Fresh Low Pressure to Bring More Rain to Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Aug 20: Odisha is bracing for another spell of heavy rain as a fresh low‑pressure area is likely to form over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha coast around August 22-23.

Meteorologists have warned that this system could trigger renewed rainfall activity across the state.

Meanwhile, the depression over north Jharkhand and adjoining southwest Bihar and southeast Uttar Pradesh has weakened into a well‑marked low‑pressure area while moving northwest. As a result, no rainfall warning has been issued for the next 24 hours.

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However, for August 21, a yellow alert has been sounded for Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar and Sundaragada districts, forecasting heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.

The situation remains grim in Baleshwar district, where floodwaters from the Subarnarekha river have inundated large areas. Severe flooding has been reported in Jaleswar, Bhograi, Baliapal and Basta blocks, leaving hundreds of villages marooned.

More than 40 panchayats in north Balasore are affected, impacting lakhs of people. Thousands in Bhograi and Baliapal remain trapped in waterlogged areas.

To tackle the emergency, ODRAF, NDRF and Fire Services teams have been deployed across four blocks of north Baleshwar. The Subarnarekha river has crossed the danger mark of 10.36 metres, flowing at 11.80 metres near Rajghat by Thursday morning.

The administration has set up 15 free kitchens and is distributing dry food to affected families. In Baliapal block alone, over 45,000 people are reeling under floodwaters, with nine SRC boats and three ODRAF teams engaged in rescue operations.

Locals, fearing breaches in river embankments, have mounted night‑long vigil along vulnerable stretches.

Flood concerns are also rising in Kendrapada district, where rivers including the Baitarani, Kharsrota, Brahmani and Kani are swelling.

In Rajkanika block, a 70‑foot breach has developed in the saline embankment at Kaimakanpur in Baraha Domunda panchayat, sparking panic in nearby villages such as Gunthala, Manpur and Domunda. Thousands of hectares of farmland have already been submerged, raising fears of extensive crop loss.

With another low‑pressure system looming, authorities are on high alert to manage both rainfall and flood situations across Odisha.