Bhubaneswar, Aug 11: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday evening warned that a fresh low‑pressure area is likely to form over the northwest Bay of Bengal around Aug 12, bringing sustained rainfall across Odisha until Aug 17. The alert comes while the state continues to recover from recent floods that affected about 8 lakh people in 23 districts.
IMD bulletin and forecast
The IMD bulletin said an “upper air cyclonic circulation over northwest Bay of Bengal and tilting southwestwards with height persists” and, under its influence, a low‑pressure area is likely to develop over the same region. The Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Director, Manorama Mohanty, projected very heavy rainfall in parts of the State till Aug 13, with isolated heavy rainfall possible from Aug 14 to Aug 17.
“Under its influence, a low‑pressure area is likely to form over the same region around August 12,” the IMD said in its bulletin.
The weather office further warned of squally conditions with surface winds reaching 40–50 kmph and sea conditions described as rough to very rough. Fishermen were urged not to venture into the sea till Aug 15.
Areas of concern and immediate risks
The IMD specifically forecast very heavy rainfall on Wednesday in Anugul and Keonjhar, and heavy rain in 15 other districts. Northern, central and southern parts of Odisha were all expected to receive moderate to heavy precipitation, with Sundergarh singled out for heavy to very heavy showers and 16 districts in the region forecast to get heavy downpours.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| People affected (recent floods) | 8 lakh in 23 districts |
| Forecast period | Up to Aug 17 (very heavy until Aug 13) |
| Winds | 40–50 kmph (squally) |
| Sea condition | Rough to very rough; fishermen advised to stay ashore till Aug 15 |
Flood, embankment and landslide warnings
The IMD warned of a renewed risk of floods, breaches of river embankments, water‑logging in urban areas and landslides or mudslides in hilly terrain. Light to moderate rain was reported in most parts of the State in the 24 hours preceding the bulletin, while heavy rainfall had been recorded at a few places in Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Sundergarh and Deogarh.
- Immediate priorities for residents: move to higher ground if living in low‑lying or flood‑prone areas; keep essential medicines and documents in waterproof bags.
- For coastal communities and fishermen: do not venture into the sea until advisories are lifted; secure boats and shoreline property.
- Urban households: be prepared for water‑logging; avoid driving through submerged roads and keep emergency numbers handy.
Preparedness and what authorities should focus on
With the state still grappling with the aftermath of recent floods, extra vigilance is required. Local administrations should intensify monitoring of river levels and embankments, preposition rescue teams and relief supplies, and keep evacuation shelters ready. Road and power departments must be prepared to respond to outages and blockages caused by falling trees or mudslides.
Health authorities should remain alert for water‑borne diseases after the rains ease, and public messaging needs to stress safe drinking water and hygiene practices. Livelihoods dependent on agriculture and fisheries remain vulnerable — early warnings and targeted relief for affected families will be critical.
How residents can stay informed
Residents are advised to follow official IMD bulletins and state disaster management advisories. Local district control rooms and the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre will issue updates; radio, television and verified government social media channels are the best sources for real‑time information.
The IMD bulletin and the meteorological centre’s guidance are intended to give communities and authorities time to take preventive action. Given the possibility of further heavy rain and strong winds, people in vulnerable areas should treat the warnings seriously and act now to reduce risk.
Reporting from Odisha’s weather watch: continued monitoring of river gauges and local advisories is essential over the next week; those in at‑risk zones should prepare to evacuate if instructed by authorities.
