Bhubaneswar, July 27: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a Red Warning for three districts of Odisha as a Deep Depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal–North Odisha coast intensified the monsoon conditions, raising the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds across large parts of the state.
According to the IMD’s midday weather bulletin, the weather system was centred at 8:30 am over the northwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 21.4°N and longitude 88.1°E. It was located about 120 km east-southeast of Balasore, 30 km south of Sagar Island, 70 km east-southeast of Digha, 90 km south of Diamond Harbour and 110 km south-southwest of Canning. The system is expected to move in a north-northwesterly direction and cross the West Bengal–North Odisha coast between Balasore and Canning by Monday afternoon.
The IMD has issued a Red Warning for Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts, where heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely during the next 24 hours. Authorities have advised residents in these districts to remain indoors unless necessary and stay alert to possible flooding, waterlogging and disruption of normal life.
An Orange Warning has been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nabarangpur districts, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph are also expected at isolated places in several of these districts.
Meanwhile, a Yellow Warning has been issued for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh districts, where heavy rainfall and thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are likely.
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers over most parts of Odisha during the next 24 hours and has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from waterlogged and vulnerable areas, and follow official weather advisories as the deep depression moves inland. Emergency response agencies and district administrations have been asked to remain prepared to tackle any rain-related incidents.
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