Bhubaneswar: Odisha is gearing up for heavy rains as a new low-pressure system has formed over the Bay of Bengal, with many areas still dealing with the aftermath of flooding.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a Low-Pressure Area developed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and nearby regions on Sunday morning. The IMD predicts that this weather system is expected to move nearly northwestward over North Odisha and adjacent Gangetic West Bengal within the next 24 hours.
In light of this development, the IMD Bhubaneswar has issued forecasts indicating very heavy rainfall across Odisha for the coming days. Their Sunday bulletin included a red warning for several districts, expecting heavy to very heavy rainfall in various locations, with extremely heavy rainfall anticipated in one or two areas, specifically over the districts of Kataka, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangapur until Monday morning.
Additionally, an orange warning has been issued for several other districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghapur, Sambalpur, Debagada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Kandhamala, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Puri, Khordha, and Nayagada. The districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Baragarh, Nuapada, Balangir, Gajapati, and Ganjam are also expected to experience significant rainfall until Monday morning.
The IMD further indicated that sea conditions are likely to be very rough to rough across the northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, as well as along the coasts of West Bengal and the northern coast of Andhra Pradesh until August 24.
Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into these waters until the conditions improve. This warning comes as many villages and a significant number of residents are still affected by flooding that has persisted for several days.
The state government has reported that over 13.44 lakh individuals across 1,703 villages in 505 gram panchayats, 76 blocks, and 12 Urban Local Bodies in seven districts—Baleshwar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendujhar, Kendrapada, and Sundargada—have been impacted by the ongoing flood crisis.
