The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a ‘red warning’ predicting extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Odisha following the formation of a fresh low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal.
Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea along and off the coasts of West Bengal, adjoining Bangladesh, Odisha, and North Andhra Pradesh between August 16 and August 18.
The fresh low-pressure area has developed even as Odisha continues to struggle with severe flooding across six districts, where around one lakh people have already been evacuated to relief centres due to inundation of their villages.
The current crisis follows an earlier low-pressure area formed on August 12 in the Bay of Bengal, which intensified into a depression and triggered heavy rain, leading to a flood situation in northern districts.
“The IMD on Sunday issued the red warning as some parts of Odisha are likely to receive over 20 cm of rain within 24 hours,” an official said.
The official added that administration needs to take action to reduce the impact of the calamity.
According to the IMD’s morning bulletin, “a low-pressure area (LoPA) has formed over northwest and adjoining West Bengal-North Odisha coasts. It is very likely to move nearly northwestwards and become more marked during the next 24 hours.”
Under the system’s influence, squally weather with wind speeds of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, is expected to prevail over the northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, as well as along the coasts of West Bengal, Bangladesh, Odisha, and North Andhra Pradesh from August 16 to August 18.
In response to the IMD forecast, the state government has put all district collectors on alert. Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, directed urban authorities to maintain a high alert and ensure a swift, coordinated, citizen-focused emergency response to any emergency situation.
To build public confidence, Padhee also instructed urban management bodies to proactively communicate their preparedness and field actions through regular press briefings and social media updates.
Sources at the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), meanwhile, said that the flood situation in five districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar remains grim. The floods have already affected around 2.70 lakh people in 503 villages in 52 blocks.
These regions have been affected by flooding in the Baitarani, Brahmani, Salandi, Jalaka and Budhabalanga rivers and their tributaries.
The water level of the Subarnarekha River began receding on Sunday morning, reaching 9.21 meters – well below its 10.36-meter danger mark at Jaleswar’s Rajghat point, officials said.
Despite receding water levels in some rivers, authorities remain on high alert in the wake of the formation of a fresh low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal.
