Heavy rainfall alert in Odisha as Bay of Bengal low pressure intensifies

Bhubaneswar, Sept 2: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple weather alerts for Odisha after a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal intensified on Tuesday morning. The system is expected to strengthen further in the next 24 hours and gradually move in a west-northwest direction across the state over the next two days.

The IMD has placed Deogarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Jharsuguda under a red warning, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall with the possibility of isolated extremely heavy showers. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds reaching 30–40 km/h may also disrupt normal life in these areas.

An orange alert has been sounded for Puri, Khordha, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack, Koraput, and Nabarangpur, where similar conditions are likely at one or two locations. Meanwhile, Bolangir, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur, Bargarh, and Malkangiri remain under a yellow warning for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

Additionally, the IMD warned of thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Rayagada.

Authorities have urged residents to stay alert, avoid vulnerable areas, and take precautions as the weather warnings will remain in force until September 7.