Weather Alert / Odisha on High Alert as Deep Depression Brings Heavy Rain

Bhubaneswar, Jul 27: A deep depression over northwest Bay of Bengal adjoining West Bengal and northern Odisha has intensified, moving northward at a speed of 3 km per hour. Its impact is expected to bring widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across Odisha over the next two days.

The monsoon trough remains active, stretching from Bikaner through Gwalior, Varanasi, Jamshedpur, and into the Bay of Bengal, aligning with the depression’s centre near the Odisha-West Bengal coast. As a result, the Regional Meteorological Centre has issued red alerts for Sundargarh, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj districts.

Orange alerts have been declared for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Nabarangpur districts, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Also read: Narrow Escape for Boat Passengers as Flood Situations Spark Panic in Bhadrak

Additionally, thunderstorm and squall alerts have been issued for 10 districts — Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj — with wind speeds expected to reach 50-60 kmph. Yellow alerts have been extended to other districts for possible thunderstorm activity.

On Tuesday, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast for Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, and Sambalpur districts under orange alert. Yellow alerts have been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Deogarh, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, and Balangir.

The impact of the depression and associated squalls is expected to persist until July 31. The Odisha coast will remain rough until July 29, with wind speeds of 40-50 kmph along the shoreline. Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the deep sea until July 29.

Review Meeting

After reviewing the rainfall situation, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari informed that meetings have been held with district collectors of the alerted districts.

“All necessary preparations have already been made by the district administrations. Instructions have been issued to keep watch, relocate people if required, and ensure cooked food, tarpaulin sheets, ODRAF teams, and fire services are kept on alert,” said Pujari.

He assured that all arrangements have been made to meet any requirements during heavy rainfall and urged people not to panic.

The minister clarified that floods in Odisha usually occur when there is heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas. Since there has been no rainfall in the upper regions, there is no such flood threat at present. However, motor pumps have been kept ready to tackle flash floods.

Municipalities and panchayats have been directed to stay vigilant. Water levels in different rivers remain below the danger mark.