North Odisha Floods: Five Lakh Affected, 2.37 Lakh Evacuated as Depression Intensifies

The flood situation in several north Odisha districts remained critical on Monday, with over five lakh people affected, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast more rainfall till August 18. A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression, triggering heavy to extremely heavy rains in many areas.

The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is expected to visit the worst-hit Bhadrak and Jajpur districts later in the day to assess the ground situation and oversee relief efforts.

More than 2.37 lakh people have been moved to safety and are being sheltered in nearly 300 relief camps set up on river embankments and in schools. The state government has cancelled leave for all employees, and schools and educational institutions remained closed for the day due to the adverse weather.

The IMD has cautioned fishermen against venturing into the North Bay of Bengal and along the coasts of West Bengal, Bangladesh, Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh until August 18, stating that sea conditions are likely to be rough owing to the depression.

According to the IMD bulletin issued at 5.30 a.m., the well-marked low-pressure area that had formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining coasts has concentrated into a depression. It was located about 80 km west-southwest of Satkhira in Bangladesh, 160 km southeast of Bankura in West Bengal, and 180 km northeast of Balasore in Odisha. The system is likely to move northwestwards towards Jharkhand across Gangetic West Bengal in the next 24 hours. A depression is stronger than a low-pressure area but less intense than a tropical cyclone.

The IMD has issued a 'red warning' (take action) for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Balasore, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts. An 'orange warning' (be prepared to take action) has been issued for Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul and Dhenkanal districts. Additionally, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in one or two places in these areas. A 'yellow warning' (be aware) has been issued for Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh districts.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg said around 100 rescue teams have been deployed in vulnerable pockets of north Odisha. Senior engineers from the Water Resources Department have been rushed to the affected locations to protect embankments and mitigate the impact of the flooding. Three senior officers have also been sent to Bhadrak, Jajpur and Balasore to monitor relief and rescue operations.

Ms. Garg said the administration is on high alert following the IMD forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall for three days, from August 16 to 18. “These three days are crucial for the north Odisha districts,” she said, directing authorities to extend all possible help to affected people.

Many parts of the state received heavy rainfall in the 24 hours preceding Monday morning. Balasore town recorded 93.1 mm of rainfall till 5.30 a.m. on August 17, an official said.

Officials said the embankments of major rivers are being monitored round the clock, and efforts are on to prevent breaches. The administration has also made arrangements for food, drinking water and medical care in the relief camps. Authorities have appealed to people in low-lying areas to cooperate with evacuation orders and move to safer places.