India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Odisha is bracing for severe weather as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal moves towards the state, with authorities warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds in several districts.
The weather system has been moving westward at around 18 kmph and is expected to reach the Odisha coast on Wednesday night. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the system could bring winds of around 70 kmph as it moves towards land.
Odisha faces a deep depression expected to make landfall by Wednesday night (Sept 23-25), bringing heavy rainfall and winds up to 70 kmph. Red alerts are active in Koraput, Ganjam, and Gajapati districts, with authorities suspending traffic on key routes and closing schools.
The administration has placed Koraput, Gajapati and Ganjam under a red alert for September 23 and 24, with the possibility of intense rainfall. Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri are expected to face severe weather conditions on September 24 and 25, while nearby districts including Balangir and Boudh are also being closely monitored.
State Minister Suresh Pujari said the government was taking all necessary precautions and urged people in vulnerable areas to remain alert.
Disaster-response teams have been positioned at vulnerable locations. ODRAF personnel and fire services teams have been deployed with boats and rescue equipment to respond to flooding and other emergencies.
Authorities have also restricted traffic movement on some vulnerable roads, including the Kalinga Ghat route between Ganjam and Kandhamal. Ferry services between Satapada and Jahnikuda in Chilika Lake have been suspended until September 25.
The government has directed district administrations to stock essential medicines and dry rations and keep cyclone and relief centres ready.
Educational institutions have been ordered to remain closed until September 24 in several districts, including Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Khurda.
The IMD said the deep depression was located around 150 km from Gopalpur and 210 km from Puri in its latest update. Southern and coastal Odisha have already experienced heavy to very heavy rainfall.
With the system approaching the coast, authorities have asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel, monitor official weather updates and follow instructions issued by district administrations.
