Odisha faces flash flood risk amid red alert for heavy rain

Bhubaneswar, Sept 14: Heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by gusty winds, is expected to impact several regions of Odisha as a deep depression shifts towards Gangetic West Bengal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday.

The deep depression, moving west-northwest at a speed of 28 kmph over the past six hours, is now centered over Gangetic West Bengal and parts of Bangladesh, approximately 50 km northeast of Kolkata. It is forecasted to continue moving west-northwest across Gangetic West Bengal, maintaining its deep depression status throughout Saturday. Following that, it is expected to track towards Jharkhand and northern Chhattisgarh, weakening into a depression over the next 48 hours.

As a result, Odisha is set to experience widespread rainfall until September 16. The IMD has issued a red warning for several districts, predicting heavy to very heavy downpours (7 to 20 cm) and isolated instances of extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm), along with thunderstorms and lightning, particularly in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Balasore.

There is a risk of flash floods and waterlogging in low-lying areas, with potential damage to kutcha roads and vulnerable houses. Residents are advised to avoid staying in vulnerable structures and to check for traffic advisories before traveling.