Bhubaneswar: A depression, which persists over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of West Bengal and northern, has worsened severe flooding in northern Odisha, affecting over five lakh people.
According to the India Meteorological Department’s morning bulletin, the weather system is currently centered near Kolkata, approximately 80 km west-southwest of Satkhira (Bangladesh), 160 km southeast of Bankura (West Bengal), and 180 km northeast of Baleshwar (Odisha). It is expected to move north-northwestwards and then northwestwards across Gangetic West Bengal towards Jharkhand and Bihar over the next 24 hours.
The IMD has issued a red alert warning of extremely heavy rainfall for Baleshwar, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj districts. An orange warning for heavy to very heavy rain covers 11 districts, including Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, and Dhenkanal, while a yellow warning has been signalled for six other districts, including Puri and Khordha. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea across the North Bay of Bengal and along the coasts of West Bengal, Odisha, Bangladesh, and northern Andhra Pradesh due to dangerously rough sea conditions lasting through August 18.
To manage the escalating situation, authorities have evacuated more than 2.37 lakh residents to safety across nearly 300 relief camps located on river embankments and in schools. The Odisha state government has canceled employee leave and closed educational institutions across the affected region, while deploying approximately 100 rescue teams alongside senior engineers from the Water Resources Department to safeguard river embankments.
While the water level in Subarnalekha river was stable during the night, it rose again this morning. Rising water has submerged roads, residential areas, and thousands of hectares of farmland, forcing residents in several villages to rely on boats for transportation. Across Baliapal block in Odisha’s Baleshwar district, over 30 villages spanning eight panchayats remain inundated.
Meanwhile, the Jalaka River has breached its danger mark at Mathani. As of 6 am, the river was flowing at 6.52 meters—well above the 5.50-meter danger threshold. This surge has impacted agricultural land and more than 100 villages across ten panchayats in the Basta block, as well as two panchayats in Baleshwar Sadar.
The main entrance to historic Panchalingeswar Shaivite shrine in the district was closed indefinitely on Sunday as relentless heavy rainfall triggered forceful runoff from the surrounding Debgiri hills, submerging the temple’s puja mandap and covering the steps leading to the sacred site.
An elderly woman and her grandson were killed late Sunday night when a wall collapsed on them while they slept in Kapasuda village under Jaleswar police limits. Continuous heavy rainfall in the region weakened the mud structure, causing it to cave in unexpectedly. The victim’s granddaughter, who suffered severe waist injuries in the collapse, was rescued from the debris by locals and rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Similarly, Baitarani River crossed the danger mark at Patna in Kendujhar district following heavy rainfall in the region. The water level reached 311.22 metres, exceeding the danger mark of 311.10 metres. The rising water has flooded several low-lying areas, while waterlogging has disrupted traffic at some places. Residents along the riverbanks have been advised to stay alert.
Additionally, the Budhabalanga River is rising steadily toward its warning level, a sharp contrast to Sunday, when all three major rivers in Baleshwar were flowing safely below their respective danger marks.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is scheduled to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the worst-affected districts of Bhadrak and Jajpur, as senior officers oversee rescue operations during what officials consider a crucial three-day window of heavy downpours.
