Odisha Braces for More Heavy Rain as Bay Cyclone Intensifies, Rath Yatra Continues
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast additional rainfall across several districts of Odisha, including the pilgrim town of Puri where the annual Rath Yatra is underway. The weather system, a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, is likely to intensify into a well-marked low-pressure area and move northwestward across north Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal within the next 12 hours, according to an IMD bulletin released on Thursday (July 16, 2026).
Heavy rainfall is expected in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khurdha, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, and Boudh districts on Thursday. In the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, the highest rainfall of 210 mm was recorded at Banki in Cuttack district, with nine other locations receiving very heavy rainfall between 115 mm and 210 mm.
Rainfall activity is expected to continue in Puri for at least the next six hours, until 4 p.m., said Manorama Mohanty, Director of IMD’s Bhubaneswar Centre. Mohanty urged devotees to remain cautious during lightning and thunderstorms. Despite relentless heavy rain, lakhs of pilgrims witnessed the 'Pahandi' ritual, the ceremonial procession of the sibling deities Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath, which marks the start of the nine-day Rath Yatra at the Puri temple.
The IMD advised that in case of heavy rain or lightning, devotees should seek shelter in permanent structures and avoid trees, electric poles, or temporary structures. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to ensure the safety of all participants.
This weather event comes at a time when Odisha is already experiencing monsoon conditions. The state has a history of handling cyclonic disturbances, and the administration is prepared to respond to any emergencies. The Rath Yatra, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, continues with necessary precautions in place.
