A flood-like situation has developed in Banpur, located in Odisha’s Khordha district, following intense rainfall that sent floodwaters pouring into residential areas and severely disrupted daily life.
Several main roads have been impacted, including the crucial Banpur-Balugaon road, which has been cut off due to rapidly rising water levels.
Extensive paddy fields have also been inundated, dealing a major blow to local farmers and standing crops.
Meanwhile, on September 25, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Somnath Pradhan inspected flood-affected regions in Odisha’s Malkangiri district as heavy downpours continued to drive up river levels across the area.
The Mathili Fire Service Team saved a family trapped in rising floodwaters after the Saberi River overflowed near Nadiguda village following relentless rains.
In Puri, the district administration has alerted visiting tourists by hoisting red flags and enforcing a strict ban on sea bathing. Lifeguards have been stationed across several coastal sectors to maintain vigilant oversight.
Assistant Station Officer Ananta Prasad Biswal highlighted the gravity of the weather crisis, warning that conditions remain hazardous and are likely to deteriorate further over the coming days.
“Given the current situation, specifically the deep depression, Puri has been designated a ‘red zone,’ a status expected to remain in effect for the next two days… We have deployed 98 lifeguards from the Odisha Fire Service to raise awareness. The situation in Puri is dangerous today and is expected to worsen tomorrow; a deep depression has already formed, causing the sea to become extremely turbulent with high waves. Anything could happen at any moment,” Ananta Prasad Biswal told ANI.
To counter the escalating hazard along the coastline, district administration has put in place a strict, official ban on sea bathing.
Biswal said, “Red flags have already been hoisted, and lifeguards are continuously issuing warnings via loudspeakers. The government has provided lifeguards, ATV bikes, and megaphones, and the Puri administration has officially banned bathing in the sea. I urge tourists not to enter the water for the next two days.”
According to a Fire Services official, the district collector has instructed lifeguards to strictly prevent tourists from attempting to bathe in the sea due to severe turbulence and massive tides, with the administration placing primary emphasis on maintaining a zero-drowning record.
In response to the high tide and ongoing deep depression, leaves for all administrative officers and emergency employees have been cancelled. Fishermen previously out at sea have safely returned to shore, while Fisheries Department officials have instructed crew members to secure all boats, nets, and equipment until conditions improve.
