Heavy rain lashed several parts of Odisha on Thursday, raising fears of fresh flooding in the northern districts as rivers swelled and water entered low-lying areas. The downpour was linked to a depression that developed over the Bay of Bengal and moved northwestwards towards Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand.
The situation was particularly concerning in Balasore and Mayurbhanj, where several areas experienced intense rainfall and waterlogging. The Jalaka River crossed the danger mark at Mathani in Basta block of Balasore, while the Budhabalanga and other rivers also recorded rising water levels. Officials said parts of Balasore town were waterlogged following the heavy showers.
Mayurbhanj also witnessed very heavy rainfall, with areas around the Similipal hills receiving intense showers. According to the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, Bhograi in Balasore recorded 236 mm of rain, while Shyamakhuntam received 230 mm, Baripada 215 mm and Rajghat 204 mm. Balasore town recorded 137 mm of rainfall by Thursday morning.
The heavy rain has also affected parts of Rourkela and several other areas, with waterlogging disrupting normal life. In some places, concerns have grown over the possibility of flash floods as rivers and streams continue to rise.
The Central Water Commission has warned of flash-flood risks in 11 districts, while the India Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rainfall in parts of the state over the coming days. Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh and Sambalpur have been placed under an orange warning for Friday, with heavy to very heavy rain expected. A yellow warning has also been issued for Balasore, Deogarh, Angul, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada and Bolangir.
However, Odisha Water Resources Department officials have said that a major statewide flood is not currently expected. They acknowledged that rivers such as the Jalaka and Salandi could create localised flooding if rainfall continues.
Authorities remain on alert and are monitoring river levels and vulnerable areas. Fishermen have also been advised not to venture into the Bay of Bengal amid rough weather conditions.
The latest spell of rain comes after repeated low-pressure systems affected Odisha over the past several days, increasing concerns among residents in flood-prone areas.
