Heavy Rains Continue to Impact Odisha as Low Pressure Persists

Odisha : Heavy rainfall has been lashing Odisha , with conditions expected to persist until Friday due to a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Normal life has been disrupted across many areas, prompting the Puri district administration to close all schools within its jurisdiction for the safety of students. In the last ten hours, the state recorded an average rainfall of 26.3 mm, with Boudh witnessing the highest downpour of 46 mm. Other significant rainfall figures include 29 mm in Chandbali, 26.3 mm in Bhubaneswar, and 25.4 mm in Nuapada.

The IMD's evening bulletin indicated that thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) are likely at isolated places in 21 of the state’s 30 districts. However, the weather office has forecasted no rain for four days starting from 8:30 AM on Friday.

The districts anticipated to receive heavy rainfall throughout Thursday night include Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Angul, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Nuapada, and Bolangir. Odisha ’s Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has urged district collectors to remain prepared for potential emergencies due to the continuous rainfall.

Officials reported that the incessant rains in coastal districts have led to severe waterlogging in several areas. Visitors to the Konark Sun Temple near Puri faced significant challenges as flooding affected access. Some tourists were seen wading through knee-deep water, with the temple entrance completely submerged. To assist visitors, the local administration has installed pumps to drain water from the shrine's premises.