Depression over Northwest Bay of Bengal, IMD issues red alert for six Odisha districts
Bhubaneswar, July 26
A well-marked low-pressure area has intensified into a depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas off the north Odisha-West Bengal coasts, prompting the India Meteorological Department to issue red, orange and yellow alerts across Odisha.
The IMD has forecast extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, over parts of the state during the next 48 hours.
A Red Alert, heavy to very heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Angul districts, with several other parts of the state likely to receive heavy rainfall. Extremely heavy rain may trigger landslides in hilly areas and flash floods in low-lying regions.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the deep sea and adjoining coastal areas for the next four days due to rough sea conditions. Local Alert-Cautionary Signal (LAC-III) has also been hoisted at ports across Odisha for the next 24 hours.
Director, IMD Bhubaneswar, Manorama Mohanty, speaking to ANI, said, "Today the low pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha and West Bengal coast has intensified into a depression... It is very likely to move northwestward and intensify further into a deep depression during the next 24 hours and cross the north Odisha and West Bengal coast between Paradeep and Sagar Island around forenoon or noon of 27th July. Odisha is likely to receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall activity during the next three days with strong wind as well."
Earlier today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall, over Odisha on July 26 and July 27 amid a well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coasts.
According to the IMD, the well-marked pressure area is very likely to concentrate into a depression over the same region during the next 12 hours. It is likely to move northwestwards and cross the North Odisha-West Bengal coasts around the forenoon of July 27.
In a post on X, IMD wrote, "Yesterday's Low Pressure Area over west Bengal coast & adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal lay as a Well-marked Pressure Area over northwest Bay of Bengal & adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coasts at 0530 Hrs IST of today, 26th July 2026."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Hope everyone in the coastal areas stays safe. 🙏 My family is in Jagatsinghpur and they've already stocked up essentials. The government should ensure fishermen don't risk going out despite the warnings. We need better cyclone shelters in remote villages.
IMD has improved a lot in recent years. Earlier we would be caught off guard, but now they issue red alerts in time. Good work by Manorama Mohanty and team! But local authorities should also check the encroachments on river banks that worsen floods.
Red alert for just depression? Kyun itna dar rahe ho? 😅 We've seen many cyclones more severe. But yes, better safe than sorry. Thoda sarkaari preparation bhi dikhna chahiye - kya drainage clear hai? Nala safai abhi se karo. Common sense please!
Remember the 1999 super cyclone? We've learned lessons since then. Today's IMD forecasting is far more accurate. My only concern is - will the power supply be maintained in hospitals and shelters? Last time in Kendrapara, we had outages for 2 days. ⛈️
Rashtriya aapda prabandhan authority ko bhi alert hona chahiye. IMD ne to time par warning di hai. Ab humari bhi zimmedari hai ki hum apna samaan surakshit rakhein aur be-jaa hisaab me paani nahi bharne dein. Nature ko control nahi kar sakte, but preparedness kar sakte hain. 🔄
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