Odisha is bracing for another spell of intense rainfall as a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal-north Odisha coasts continues to influence the weather.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system persisted over the same region at 5:30 am IST on Sunday, August 30. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level.
The weather system is likely to become more marked and move west-northwestwards across north Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal during the next 24 hours, the IMD said.
Red Warning for three Odisha districts
The IMD has issued a Red Warning for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Balasore, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20 cm at isolated places on Sunday.
The warning comes as several parts of Odisha continue to deal with the impact of recent flood-related damage. Further heavy rainfall could worsen the situation in vulnerable and already waterlogged areas.
Eight districts under Orange Warning
An Orange Warning has been issued for eight districts — Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda — for very heavy rainfall.
Another 19 districts are under a Yellow Warning for heavy rain.
Rainfall has already intensified across several parts of the state. Bhubaneswar witnessed persistent showers from Saturday night, adding to the widespread wet conditions.
More rain likely through September 3
The weather system is expected to keep Odisha under a wet spell until September 3, raising concerns about a fresh deterioration in flood-affected areas, particularly across northern Odisha.
Western Odisha is also likely to experience another spell of intense rainfall on Monday. The IMD has issued Orange Warnings for Nuapada, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh.
Flooding and connectivity concerns
Extremely heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding, waterlogging and a rise in river and other water-body levels. Road connectivity may also be disrupted in vulnerable areas.
Residents and authorities in the Red Warning districts have been advised to remain alert and closely monitor weather and local administration advisories.
With the low-pressure system expected to move further west-northwestwards, Odisha could see continued heavy to very heavy rainfall over the coming days.
