Amid continuous rainfall in Odisha, the state’s Water Resources Department has alerted about a potential minor flood in the Baitarani River, which could impact residents in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts. The department disclosed that heavy rainfall in the upper catchment area is likely to cause a minor flood downstream, with water release ongoing from Anandapur to manage the situation. The river is expected to surpass the danger level at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district, but significant flooding is not anticipated.
The department anticipates the minor-to-moderate flood to subside to normal levels within the next 24 hours. Assurances have been given that other major rivers in the state, such as the Mahanadi, are not under threat of flooding. Additionally, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar has predicted that a depression in the northwest Bay of Bengal will move north-northwestward, leading to widespread rainfall across Odisha.
IMD Director Manorama Mohanty stated that moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in various parts of the state, with some areas likely to receive very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall due to the weather system. Districts including Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, Sundargarh, and others are at risk of heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are also forecasted in several districts, prompting a warning for fishermen to avoid venturing into the north Bay of Bengal and along the Odisha coast for the next two days due to rough sea conditions.
