Odisha Rainfall to ease temporarily, more expected

Odisha has witnessed unprecedented rainfall in multiple districts, with at least 33 places in Bargarh, Sambalpur, Balangir, Sonepur, Nuapada, and Keonjhar receiving very heavy rains in the last 24 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported rainfall activity intensified due to a deep depression over central Chhattisgarh and adjoining Odisha regions, triggering floods and waterlogging.

Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre director Manorama Mohanty confirmed rainfall would ease from Thursday as the weather system shifts westward. "The current weather system will move nearly westwards across Chhattisgarh and east Madhya Pradesh during the next 24 hours," Mohanty informed the regional met office. The deep depression, which currently lies over central parts of Chhattisgarh and adjoining north interior Odisha, triggered extremely heavy rainfall across several districts of western and northern Odisha.

However, IMD forecasters warned of another three-day heavy rain spell starting Sunday, linked to an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the northwest Bay of Bengal. Weather models have predicted formation of a prominent upper-air cyclonic circulation over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of north Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal between July 31 and August 6. Experts said they are keeping a close watch on the weather conditions.

Rainfall measurements from the past 24 hours include 310 mm in Bargarh's Bijepur, the highest recorded, followed by 260 mm each in Balangir's Agalpur and Salebhata. Similarly, Barpali and Gaisilet in Bargarh received 250 mm rains each, Dunguripali and Tarva in Sonepur district logged 240 mm each, Bhatli in Bargarh witnessed 230 mm rains, Telkoi in Keonjhar and Kantamal in Boudh recorded 220 mm each, and Chendipada in Angul received 210 mm. As per the IMD, the system battered several places in the last 24 hours, with the regional met office maintaining alert across the affected districts.