Bhubaneswar: A depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a deep depression and bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall to several parts of Odisha over the next four days, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue red warnings for vulnerable districts and the state government to step up its preparedness.
The depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal moved westwards at a speed of about 18 kmph during the past six hours and was centred near 17.9°N and 86.0°E at 8.30 am on Tuesday, according to official data.
The system was located about 200 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha, 200 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, 210 km south of Puri and 290 km east of Visakhapatnam. It is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a deep depression within the next 12 hours.
The system is likely to continue moving west-northwestwards as a deep depression and cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast between the night of September 23 and the early hours of September 24, between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur.
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain at many places in Odisha on September 22, with heavy to very heavy rain at isolated locations. On September 23 and 24, most parts of southern Odisha are likely to receive light to moderate rain, with heavy to very heavy rain at some places and extremely heavy rain at isolated locations.
Red warnings have been issued for Koraput, Gajapati and Ganjam for September 23-24, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected at some places and extremely heavy rainfall at one or two locations. For September 24-25, red warnings are in force for Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri.
The weather system is also expected to strengthen winds along the southern Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts. Wind speeds of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, have already begun in the region. From the evening of September 22, winds may increase to 50-60 kmph with gusts up to 70 kmph.
Over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, winds are expected to reach 55-65 kmph with gusts up to 75 kmph between September 23 and the evening of September 24. Sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the west-central, adjoining northwest and southwest Bay of Bengal and along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha-West Bengal coasts until September 24.
Odisha recorded an average rainfall of 13.5 mm in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on September 22. Pattamundai in Kendrapara recorded the highest rainfall at 78 mm during the period.
The state government has also intensified its preparedness. Chief Secretary Anu Garg reviewed the situation on September 21 with the Special Relief Commissioner, Director of Fire Services, Health and Family Welfare Department, Water Resources Department, police and district collectors of southern Odisha.
Collectors have been directed to identify vulnerable areas, keep cyclone and flood shelters ready, stock essential supplies and deploy disaster response teams in advance. Special attention has been directed towards landslide-prone areas in Gajapati, Rayagada, Ganjam, Koraput and Malkangiri.
A total of 33 ODRF teams have been deployed or earmarked for the situation. Twenty-four teams have been positioned in vulnerable districts, including six each in Ganjam and Koraput, three each in Gajapati, Malkangiri and Rayagada, two in Kalahandi and one in Balangir. Nine additional teams have been kept in reserve at the OSAP 8th Battalion and ODRF unit in Chhatrapur, Ganjam.
Health authorities have been asked to ensure medical preparedness, while the Water Resources Department has been directed to continuously monitor rainfall, reservoir inflows and dam water levels. Senior officials and district administrations have been instructed to remain at headquarters and maintain close watch on the situation.
The government has advised people to remain alert, avoid flooded, low-lying and other vulnerable areas, follow local administration advisories and rely on official updates issued by the state government and the IMD.
