IMD forecasts heavy rainfall in six Odisha districts, issues red alert for landslides, flash floods
Bhubaneswar, July 25
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for six Odisha districts, forecasting extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall amid a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining West Bengal coast.
The IMD has also warned of landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas.
"A low-pressure area has formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal-North Odisha coasts and now lies over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal coast", Manorama Mohanty, Director of IMD, Bhubaneswar, told ANI.
"Under its influence, the IMD has issued Red, Orange and Yellow alerts for Odisha, forecasting extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph during the next 24 hours", she said.
The IMD has issued a Red Alert for extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall in Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Keonjhar districts, while several other parts of the state are 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 due to rough sea conditions. Local Alert-Cautionary Signal (LAC-III) has also been hoisted at ports across Odisha.
On June 6, A severe thunderstorm accompanied by heavy downpours and high-velocity gusty winds lashed Bhubaneshwar in the afternoon, bringing sudden respite from the intense summer heat but disrupting normal life across several areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a state-wide warning predicting isolated heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds for Odisha.
In accordance with the weather bureau's advisory, Bhubaneswar and its peripheral regions are currently experiencing intense thunderstorm activities, with wind speeds peaking up to 50 km per hour.
While the rain briefly disrupted normal life and slowed traffic movement in parts of the town, the sudden change in weather brought a serene and soothing atmosphere with cool winds and rain-soaked streets, creating a picturesque landscape across the city.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I stay in Cuttack and we are already panicking. Markets are crowded, people stocking essentials. But honestly, I'm impressed with IMD's precision this time – the red alert came a day early. Better safe than sorry. Let's keep fingers crossed for minimal damage.
Same warnings every year but ground reality is different. In many villages, drainage is blocked and shelters are inadequate. Authorities need to ensure relief camps have enough food, water, and medical facilities. Also, why no mention of NDRF deployment in the article? 😒
Good that IMD is being proactive with red alerts. Last month's Bhubaneswar thunderstorm showed how quickly things can turn chaotic. Let's hope the low-pressure area doesn't intensify into a cyclone. Stay safe, Odisha! ⛈️
Living in Bhubaneswar, I remember that June storm – it was scary but also beautiful after the rain. However, this time the warning covers coastal districts too. My family in Kendrapara is already moving to safer places. Hope everyone takes this seriously.
Red alert is good but where is the long-term planning? Every year same districts – Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Jajpur – face landslides and floods. Time to invest in better infrastructure, flood-resistant housing, and early warning systems at village level. Just my two cents. 🤔
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