The low-pressure-induced heavy rainfall lashed parts of Odisha on Tuesday, leading to swelling in the water level of various rivers in the northern region of the state and triggering fresh flooding across Mayurbhanj and Jajpur districts, according to officials.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more downpours on Wednesday across districts, including Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Deogarh, and Angul.
The state government initiated emergency protocols, deploying rescue teams to assist 147 villages submerged by rising water levels in the Budhabalanga and Baitarani rivers.
Ingressing floodwaters inundated two wards in Baripada town, forcing officials to evacuate over 2,000 people to temporary relief shelters across Mayurbhanj, the officials said.
“Flood water and heavy rain continue to affect people in 146 villages and one urban area in Mayurbhanj and Jajpur districts. Immediate priorities have been given to access to cut-off habitations, supply of cooked food and safe drinking water,” stated Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh P. Patil.
Patil said that floodwaters entered 84 villages and two urban wards in Mayurbhanj district, alongside 62 impacted villages in Jajpur district.
To protect students, the Mayurbhanj district administration ordered the closure of all private and government schools across six affected blocks, including Saraskana, Bangriposi, Bisoi, Kuliana, Badasahi, and Betanati.
The decision was taken to ensure the safety of students.
An official notification said classes will resume once road conditions improve and rainfall subsides, advising parents to keep children indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
In Balasore district, the Jalaka river reached its danger mark of 6.50 metres at the Mathani Road Bridge in Basta block, maintaining a steady upward trend.
Approximately ten panchayats in Basta block and two in Sadar block face potential inundation, while the rising Subarnarekha river adds further pressure on northern Balasore, officials said.
Similarly, the Baitarani river at Akhuapada in Bhadrak reached 18.20 metres, approaching its danger mark of 18.33 metres. Low-lying areas in Jajpur’s Dasarathpur, Bari, and Binjharpur blocks, along with Bhadrak’s Bhandaripokhari, Dhamnagar, Chandbali, and Tihidi blocks, face heightened flood threats.
Officials further stated that Dasarathpur block in Jajpur has remained under continuous flood impact for nearly 56 days since the first week of July
The latest IMD bulletin stated that the well-marked low-pressure system continues to trigger intense rainfall across northern and western districts.
Odisha recorded an average rainfall of 14 mm since Monday, nearly double its normal average of 7.8 mm, with Bangriposi block in Mayurbhanj logging the highest rainfall of 309.2 mm.
A revenue department official stated that administration teams are maintaining continuous surveillance over regional river systems and necessary preparedness being maintained as rainfall persists across northern and western areas.
The low-pressure weather system is expected to move west-northwestward over northern Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal on Wednesday.
While forecasting more downpour till 8.30 am on Wednesday, the IMD issued an orange warning (12 cm to 20 cm rainfall) of heavy to very heavy rainfall, which is very likely to occur in the three districts of Sudergarh, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
The weather office also forecast heavy rainfall (7 cm to 11 cm) for Balasore, Deogarh, Angul, Bhadrak, Subarnapur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur over the same period.
Water Resources Department officials said that two days of relentless rainfall triggered a fresh surge in water levels in several rivers across north Odisha.
Key rivers, including Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Jalaka, and Subarnarekha, are in spate, though none had breached danger marks as of 6 PM on Tuesday.
“As per today’s reports, in Jajpur district, one block-Dasarathpur-remains affected, with 19 GPs and 62 villages affected. The number of affected people has been recorded at 7,745 today, with 22 relief camps operational,” the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office said.
The SRC added that 84 villages alongside Baripada town in Mayurbhanj were hit by floods, resulting in evacuation of 2,076 people and the operation of 11 relief camps to support affected residents.
Relief and rescue operations are fully active, providing flood victims with safe drinking water, medical supplies, food, lighting, and sanitation support.
Altogether 22 rescue teams are deployed in Jajpur, Balasore and Mayurbhanj.
