Bhubaneswar: Heavy torrential rain triggered by an approaching deep depression in the Bay of Bengal lashed large swathes of southern and coastal Odisha on Wednesday, disrupting daily life and prompting the state government to initiate mass evacuations, issue red alerts, and mobilise extensive emergency response.
Moving westwards at a speed of 5 kmph, the deep depression lay centred around 150 km south-southwest of Gopalpur and 250 km southwest of Puri. Though the US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 01B, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) maintained its deep depression status, ruling out intensification into Cyclone Arnab while tracking its landfall trajectory toward the coastline near Kalingapatnam, between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, by Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, rainfall intensity under the system’s influence has increased with Nayagada recording the highest daytime rainfall in the state at 60.2 mm between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, closely followed by Gopalpur at 40.4 mm. Other prominent daytime figures included Malkangiri (34.4 mm), Chatrapur (33.8 mm), Baleshwar (31.5 mm), Bhubaneswar (31.9 mm), and Baripada (31.0 mm). In the 24-hour cycle preceding 8:30 am on September 23, Semiliguda in Koraput district received the highest cumulative rainfall of 230.2 mm, followed by Jeypore (161.6 mm), Gunupur in Rayagada (160 mm), Mohana in Gajapati (145 mm), Borigumma in Koraput (138.2 mm), Tentulikhunti in Nabarangpur (138 mm), and Baleshwar (126.4 mm). More than 16 locations across the state received over 10 cm of rain.
The IMD issued a red alert for Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls at isolated places on Wednesday. Orange alerts covered several other southern and coastal districts, while yellow warnings applied to parts of northern Odisha. The red warning continues for Nabarangpur on Thursday. Squally winds gusting up to 75 kmph are expected along and off the South Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coasts through Thursday evening, and fishermen Have been advised not to venture into the sea until Friday.
In response, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi convened a high-level review meeting alongside Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil and senior officials, directing all administration wings to strictly enforce a “zero casualty” mandate.
Authorities have placed collectors of 11 key districts on high alert and deployed 33 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, stationed across vulnerable hubs like Ganjam, Koraput, Gajapati, and Malkangiri, supported by pre-positioned NDRF, Fire Services, and rescue boat fleets.
At least 5,000 people, including 3,500 in landslide-prone Gajapati district, have been shifted to cyclone shelters and temporary relief camps, where cooked food was provided. The Gajapati administration also closed major tourist attractions and waterfalls, including Mahendragiri, BN Palace, Paralakhemundi and nine waterfalls such as Gandahati and Budubuda, until further notice. Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Koraput, Puri, Rayagada and Balangir district administrations have announced the closure of schools for the day, while schools in Malkangiri will remain closed until September 24. Anganwadi centres will also remain closed till September 24. Government employees’ leave has also been cancelled in Ganjam, Koraput and Kalahandi, and teachers in districts like Koraput and Kalahandi have been directed to remain at their postings until September 25.
Local Warning Signal Number 3 has been hoisted at all ports, accompanied by a strict ban on fishing activities along the Odisha and West Bengal coasts through Friday.
The severe weather has already caused structural and transit disruptions, including reports of uprooted trees, collapsed houses, hillside mudflows, and waterlogging in southern districts. Vehicular movement has been restricted on certain roads, including Kalinga Ghat, and ferry services on Chilika Lake remained suspended until September 25. Healthcare facilities have been stocked with emergency supplies, 24×7 control rooms remain operational, and continuous monitoring of urban drainage and river embankments continues as heavy rains persist.