Odisha continues to witness widespread rainfall under the influence of an active monsoon system and a low-pressure area, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a Red Alert for five districts over the next 24 hours.
The districts placed under the Red Alert for extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall are Kandhamal, Boudh, Angul, Subarnapur (Sonepur), and Sambalpur.
An Orange Alert has been issued for Rayagada, Kalahandi, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, and Kandhamal, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected. Additionally, the IMD has issued a Yellow Warning for 17 other districts, forecasting heavy rainfall.
While rainfall intensity is expected to decrease from tomorrow, the weather department has warned that sea conditions will remain rough to very rough for the next four days. Fishermen have been strongly advised not to venture into the sea during this period.
Ambabhona Records Over 317 mm Rainfall
Odisha witnessed intense rainfall over the past 24 hours, with Ambabhona in Bargarh district recording the state’s highest rainfall of 317 mm. Three locations reported very heavy rainfall, while 21 places received heavy rainfall.
The state’s cumulative rainfall from June 1 till date stands at 176.2 mm, but despite the recent showers, Odisha continues to face a 26 percent rainfall deficit compared to the seasonal average.
According to rainfall data, Ambabhona in Bargarh received nearly 320 mm, followed by Balangir (150 mm), Kantamal (130 mm), Birmaharajpur (120 mm), and Tarbha (110 mm).
Between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM on Friday, Chhatrapur recorded the highest rainfall among major towns with 83 mm, followed by Gopalpur (67.7 mm), Nayagarh (53 mm), Jagatsinghpur (45.2 mm), Khordha (45 mm), Cuttack (44.4 mm), Chandbali (31.9 mm), Bhubaneswar (28.6 mm), Sambalpur (25.5 mm), and Angul (21 mm).
Flooding Disrupts Normal Life Across Odisha
Continuous rainfall has severely affected normal life in several parts of the state. Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, and Sambalpur have experienced persistent heavy showers due to the active monsoon and the prevailing low-pressure system.
In Bargarh, rainwater entered residential areas, leaving many houses submerged in knee-deep water. Residents have struggled with disrupted cooking and other daily activities.
In Baliguda of Kandhamal district, continuous rainfall over the past two days has led to severe waterlogging in low-lying areas, disrupting transportation and daily movement. Similar scenes have been reported from Dhenkanal town and its surrounding areas, where waterlogging has caused significant inconvenience to residents.
Urban Drainage Failures Exposed
The ongoing rainfall has also exposed serious shortcomings in urban drainage infrastructure. Major cities, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Sambalpur, witnessed waterlogging even after moderate rainfall.
In Vaibhav Nagar under Ward No. 4 of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), poor drainage has prevented rainwater from flowing out, leaving roads and residential areas inundated. The situation has affected school-going children, patients, and daily commuters.
Similarly, waterlogging has been reported from several locations inside the SCB Medical College and Hospital campus in Cuttack, highlighting the growing concerns over urban flood management despite recurring monsoon preparedness measures.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the state remains under the influence of the active weather system, with disaster response teams on alert in vulnerable districts.