Bhubaneswar: Odisha has been subjected to intense rainfall as a result of a low-pressure system forming in the northwestern Bay of Bengal, leading the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a ‘red warning’ for five districts on Sunday. The IMD anticipates that heavy precipitation will continue across various districts until August 26.
In the past 24 hours up until 8:30 am on Sunday, numerous locations in the state experienced significant rainfall, with at least two areas exceeding 200 mm. The districts of Kataka, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur are under a ‘red warning’, indicating that residents should take action due to expected heavy rains.
Specifically, Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi recorded an extreme downpour of 345 mm, while Kashipur in Rayagada reported 212 mm. Additionally, nineteen other regions documented between 100 mm and 200 mm of rainfall within the same period. The IMD noted that an upper air cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal near the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh developed into a low-pressure area around 5:30 am on Sunday.
Furthermore, the IMD has issued an ‘orange warning’ (be prepared to take action) for districts including Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Sambalpur, Debagada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonpur, Boudh, Kandhamala, Koraput, Malkangiri, Puri, Khordha, Nayagada, and Rayagada for Sunday.
A ‘yellow warning’ (be aware) has also been announced for Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Nuapada, Balangir, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts. The IMD has indicated that similar weather patterns are expected to persist in the state until August 26. Additionally, squally conditions with wind speeds reaching 40-60 km/h are predicted over the Bay of Bengal and along the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha until Monday. Fishermen have been warned to avoid venturing into the sea along the Odisha coast until August 24 due to rough conditions.
