Low-pressure over Bay of Bengal may intensify into depression, IMD warns of heavy rain in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, July 14: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a well-marked system and is likely to develop into a depression within the next 24 hours. In its Monday morning bulletin, the IMD stated that the system, which formed over the north Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh, West Bengal, and north Odisha, has moved in a north-northwest direction.

As of 5:30 a.m. on July 14, the system lay centered over southwest Bangladesh and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal. It is expected to continue moving northwestward, further intensifying into a depression, which will significantly enhance rainfall activity over Odisha.

Due to this development, the IMD has issued a red warning for Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm on July 14. An orange warning has been issued for Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapada, and Sundargarh.

In addition, yellow warnings for isolated heavy rainfall have been issued for several districts including Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Angul, Boudh, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur. Authorities have urged residents to stay alert.