Continuous heavy rainfall has thrown normal life out of gear across several districts of Odisha, with widespread flooding, waterlogging, damaged roads, breached embankments and disrupted transportation affecting thousands of residents.

Dhenkanal Worst Hit by Flooding

In Dhenkanal district, the situation remains critical in Tumusinga village under Kamakhyanagar block, where the Jharasahi, Badasahi and Pradhansahi localities are completely waterlogged. More than 10 families are stranded as floodwater has entered their homes after overflowing drains. Despite using motor pumps to remove water, residents continue to face severe hardship.

In Hindol, Gate No. 3 of the Sapua Bada Joda Medium Irrigation Project collapsed due to the alleged lack of maintenance. During media coverage of the incident, Executive Engineer Kalyani Sahu was caught on camera pushing away a reporter’s microphone before leaving the site.

Floodwaters from the Sapua and Bada Joda rivers have submerged the Karanda, Gulehi and Ishwarpal bridges, with nearly five feet of water flowing over them, completely disrupting road connectivity.

Meanwhile, the boundary wall of Bhapur Upper Primary School in Gandia block collapsed following incessant rainfall.

Cuttack Villages Marooned; Roads Washed Away

The flood situation has also worsened in Cuttack district.

Tirigipasi village under Balijhari Panchayat in the Badamba-Narsinghpur block has been completely surrounded by floodwater, preventing residents from stepping out of their homes.

In Badapatsundarpur, under the Niali-Kantapada block, an Anganwadi Centre has been submerged, disrupting classes for young children.

At Ichhapur Panchayat in Athagarh, strong currents in the Sapua River washed away the rural road connecting Arakhapatna and Patanda, cutting off transport.

In Banki, a breach in the Junia Canal has resulted in nearly three feet of water flowing over the road connecting Gaudachheli village, while hundreds of hectares of paddy fields remain submerged, causing heavy losses to farmers.

Rivers Flow Above Danger Level in Balasore

The impact of the rain has extended to several coastal districts.

In Balasore district, the Jalka River at Mathani in Basta block crossed the danger mark, flowing at 6.52 metres, above the danger level of 6.50 metres. Officials fear that nearly 13 gram panchayats could be affected if the water level continues to rise.

Puri Heritage Site Wall Collapses

In Puri, heavy rain caused a portion of the boundary wall of the sacred Swetaganga Tank to collapse. The incident has disrupted movement in Balisahi and nearby areas, creating difficulties for commuters and local residents.

House Wall Collapse Injures Man in Keonjhar

In Hadabandhapur village under Ghasipura block of Keonjhar district, a mud wall collapsed late at night, seriously injuring Parameswar Dehuri. He was rescued and admitted to Anandapur Sub-Divisional Hospital for treatment.

Schools Closed in Subarnapur

Considering the continuing spell of heavy rainfall, the Subarnapur district administration has declared an early closure of all Anganwadi centres, schools and colleges on the directions of the District Collector to ensure the safety of students.

Administration on Alert

With heavy rainfall continuing across Odisha, district administrations remain on high alert. Authorities are closely monitoring river levels, vulnerable embankments and low-lying areas while emergency teams have been kept ready to respond to any flood-related situation. Residents living in flood-prone regions have been advised to remain cautious and follow official advisories as the rain is expected to continue.

A cyclonic circulation over the north Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Bangladesh remains active and extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level, tilting southwestward. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coast within the next 24 hours, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Bhubaneswar.

The weather system is expected to trigger widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across Odisha until July 17. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Red, Orange and Yellow alerts for several districts on July 14 and July 15, warning of intense rainfall and possible weather-related disruptions.

Red Alert Districts

For Tuesday, July 14, a Red Alert has been issued for Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur, where extremely heavy rainfall is likely.

On Wednesday, July 15, Jagatsinghpur will continue to remain under a Red Warning for very heavy rainfall.

Orange Alert

For July 14, an Orange Alert has been issued for Balasore, Jajpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh, indicating the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall.

On July 15, the Orange Alert has been extended to Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh and Dhenkanal.

Yellow Alert

For July 14, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kandhamal and Rayagada are under a Yellow Alert for heavy rainfall.

On July 15, Yellow Alerts have been issued for Balasore, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Boudh, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam.

Rain Likely During Rath Yatra

The Meteorological Department has also forecast heavy rainfall during the Rath Yatra celebrations on July 16.

An Orange Alert has been issued for Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack on the festival day. Meanwhile, Puri, Ganjam, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and several other districts are under a Yellow Alert, with heavy rainfall expected during the celebrations.

Fishermen Advised Not to Venture Into the Sea

The IMD has warned that sea conditions along the Odisha coast will remain rough from July 14 to July 18, with wind speeds of 40–50 kmph expected over coastal waters.

In view of the rough sea conditions, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea during this period.

Rainfall Above Normal

Odisha has recorded 354.7 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 14, compared to the normal rainfall of 345.5 mm for the period. This represents 4% above-normal rainfall across the state so far this monsoon season.

A massive search operation resumed on Sunday after a 35-year-old man went missing after allegedly being swept away in an open drain in Bhubaneswar during incessant rainfall triggered by a low-pressure system.

The search, which had to be suspended on Saturday night due to darkness and poor visibility, resumed early Sunday. Rescue teams are combing the drain stretch from Vani Vihar Square to the river outfall, with firefighters facing major challenges due to accumulated garbage, debris, and the strong flow of rainwater.

The missing man has been identified as Anil Sethi (35), a resident of Patharabandha Basti near Vani Vihar. He is reportedly a native of Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district.

Swept Away While Collecting Plastic Waste

According to preliminary information, Anil was collecting plastic waste near the drain when he accidentally slipped into the overflowing channel and was swept away by the powerful current.

The Mancheswar Fire Services team has been leading the rescue operation despite continuous rainfall and the dangerous water flow inside the drain.

Officials said the heavy current and large quantities of waste trapped inside the drain have made the search operation extremely difficult.

BMC Mayor Visits Spot

Following the incident, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Sulochana Das visited the site to review the rescue efforts.

Speaking to reporters, the Mayor said that two people were present near the drain at the time of the incident.

“Two persons were there. While one was bathing, the other was swept away by the drain. The search operation is continuing,” she said.

Authorities are continuing efforts to trace the missing man as rescue personnel search the drain despite adverse weather conditions.

Heavy Rain Continues Across Odisha

The incident comes as Odisha continues to experience persistent rainfall under the influence of an active low-pressure system. Bhubaneswar, along with several districts across the state, has been witnessing continuous rain for the past three days, leading to waterlogging, overflowing drains, and disruptions to normal life.

Open Drains Remain a Major Safety Concern

The latest incident has once again highlighted the long-standing issue of uncovered drains in Bhubaneswar.

According to available records, at least seven people have lost their lives after falling into open drains in the city over the past 11 years. Areas such as Gadagada, Chudanga Vihar, Jayadev Vihar, Shatabdi Nagar, Malisahi, and Salia Sahi continue to have stretches of uncovered drains, posing a serious risk, particularly during the monsoon.

Despite repeated demands from residents and civil society groups to install protective concrete slabs over open drains, many vulnerable stretches remain uncovered. The recurring accidents have renewed concerns over urban infrastructure and public safety, with citizens urging the authorities to take immediate preventive measures before more lives are lost.