Weather Alert / Odisha Braces for Two More Days of Heavy Rain

Bhubaneswar, Sep 24: Odisha continues to reel under the impact of a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy rainfall across the state until September 26.

The system has triggered widespread showers, prompting red, orange, and yellow warnings in multiple districts.

According to the IMD, Nabarangpur, Koraput, and Kalahandi districts are under a red warning for the next 24 hours, with the possibility of rainfall exceeding 20 cm. Schools in these districts have been ordered shut as a precautionary measure.

Also read: Odisha Floods Claim 7 Lives, Damage 18,076 Houses And 2.12 Lakh Hectares Of Crops

Seven districts — Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Balangir, and Nuapada — are under orange warning, where rainfall between 11 and 20 cm is expected.

Meanwhile, 17 districts across coastal, northern, and interior Odisha have been placed under yellow warning, with forecasts of 7-11 cm rainfall.

Officials have also flagged flood risks in rivers such as Devi, Subarnarekha, and Budhabalanga. The Subarnarekha has touched warning levels, raising concerns of water entering low‑lying areas.

Heavy showers have already caused waterlogging in Berhampur and Baleshwar, while in Malkangiri, four bridges are submerged, disrupting connectivity. Authorities expect conditions to normalize once rainfall subsides by Friday.

In the past 24 hours, Similiguda in Koraput district recorded 193.9 mm of rainfall, while 17 other locations reported more than 100 mm, according to Chief Engineer of Water Resources Dillip Kumar Raut.

Adding to the crisis, the under‑construction guard wall at Bhanjanagar-Kalinga Ghat collapsed again due to incessant rain. The ₹25‑crore project had previously suffered two similar failures. Authorities have closed the ghat from both sides, citing safety concerns.