IMD Red Warning: Heavy Rainfall Pounds Odisha

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning for several districts in Odisha as a depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal intensifies, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall across the region.

At 5:30 am, the system was located near coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh, close to Kolkata, and is expected to move northwest toward Jharkhand across Gangetic West Bengal within 24 hours.

District Alerts

• Red Warning: Baleshwar, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj — heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy showers possible at isolated places.
• Orange Warning: Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Debagarh, Angul, Dhenkanal — heavy rainfall likely at one or two places.
• Yellow Warning: Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh — heavy rainfall expected at isolated locations.

Advisory

Authorities have urged residents to remain alert for flooding, waterlogging, and traffic disruptions.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

Hirakud Dam authorities have opened seven gates as reservoir levels rose, while schools have been shut in five North Odisha districts amid the heavy rainfall forecast.

Relief coordination efforts are underway in flood‑hit districts.