Bhubaneswar: A depression that formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal has moved over Jharkhand and adjoining northern parts of Gangetic West Bengal and is expected to continue tracking west-northwestwards across Jharkhand and Bihar over the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.
Under its influence, very heavy rainfall may persist in parts of Odisha, which is grappling with fresh flooding triggered by the Baitarani river, on August 18, with further heavy spells possible between August 21 and 23. Isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are also likely until August 21, while widespread rainfall is forecast to continue until August 23.
An orange warning has been issued for Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Bargarh districts, while Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Balangir, Deogarh and Sonepur remain under yellow alert on August 18.
Earlier red warnings covered Baleshwar, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj for extremely heavy falls.
According to official data released by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Bahalda registered a staggering 273 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours, while Rairangpur recorded 207 mm. Balshwar saw 93.1 mm of rainfall.
Notably, large parts of north Odisha remained submerged on Monday as major rivers crossed danger marks, inundating villages across Jajpur, Bhadrak, Baleshwar, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar and Kendrapada districts. A government statement said more than 8 lakh people have been affected in the latest floods since August 13, of whom 2.79 lakh were evacuated. Over 82,000 people are currently housed in different shelters.
The Baitarani, flowing above the danger mark at Akhuapada, Anandpur and Swampatna, caused a fresh wave of flooding in Jajpur for the fourth time this monsoon. The situation was particularly severe in Dasarathpur block, where fresh inundation by the Baitarani and its tributary Kani affected around 45 villages under 21 gram panchayats.
The Jalaka also crossed the danger level at Mathani Road, while the Brahmani, Budhabalanga and several tributaries remained above warning levels, submerging vast tracts in their catchments.
In Mayurbhanj, a bridge in Suliyapada block collapsed amid heavy rain. The bridge collapse has severed the connection to 15 panchayats. Continuous rain has also impacted the movement of local people.
Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief Dilip Rout said the flood situation in the Baitarani basin was likely to improve only after four to five days. Water levels in the Brahmani are expected to recede earlier, while the Budhabalanga and Jalaka may begin showing signs of improvement from Tuesday if there is no further heavy rainfall.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accompanied by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, toured some of the worst-hit areas in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts. They travelled by ODRAF boat to Kasapa and Tarapada panchayats under Dasarathpur block in Jajpur and later walked barefoot through waterlogged stretches to meet residents of Ramachandrapur, Balada and Dobhabil villages.
During his interaction with villagers, Majhi assured them of health camps, safe drinking water and support for farmers once floodwaters recede. He directed officials to continue relief and rehabilitation operations without interruption.
Altogether 45 teams of ODRAF, eight NDRF and 53 fire services units were deployed in the affected areas.
Flood-related disruptions also hit rail services. Train movement on the Baripada-Bangiriposi route in Mayurbhanj district was suspended after a rain-triggered landslide washed away the soil beneath a section of the railway track. Earth and concrete supporting nearly 50 metres of track near Sunagadia in Baripada’s Station Bazar area were eroded by heavy runoff.
