Odisha has recorded an alarming 86% excess rainfall during the pre-monsoon period, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), raising concerns over agriculture, urban infrastructure, and flood preparedness.
Between March 1 and May 31, the state received 238.6 mm of rain, significantly higher than the normal average of 128.6 mm. Affected regions include 21 districts that recorded rainfall more than 60% above average.
The southwest monsoon arrived early, making landfall in the state on May 28, a rare occurrence that last happened in 1999 and 2009. The IMD has forecast that Odisha could receive up to 106% of normal rainfall in June, suggesting intensified downpours ahead.
This rainfall surge is expected to influence agricultural planning, as many farmers may face delayed sowing or waterlogging in fields. Urban areas, particularly Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, are already witnessing knee-deep waterlogging, exposing the vulnerabilities in city drainage systems.
Meanwhile, a deep depression that threatened heavier damage veered off course toward Bangladesh-West Bengal, sparing Odisha a major weather event, though it did cause scattered thunderstorms.
