North Odisha flood situation grim, IMD forecast more rains till August 18 The flood crisis in north Odisha districts has worsened, with over five lakh people affected as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of continued heavy rainfall until August 18. The situation remains critical as a low-pressure system intensified into a depression in the Bay of Bengal, prompting authorities to take emergency measures. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is set to inspect the worst-hit areas of Bhadrak and Jajpur later on August 17, 2026, following the IMD’s updated forecast. Over 2.37 lakh people have been evacuated to safety, sheltered in nearly 300 relief camps located on river embankments and in schools. The state government canceled employee leave and closed schools and educational institutions for the day due to severe weather conditions. The IMD issued advisories to fishermen, urging them to avoid sea travel along the coasts of West Bengal, Bangladesh, Odisha, and north Andhra Pradesh until August 18, citing rough sea conditions caused by the depression. The IMD’s National Bulletin detailed the movement of the low-pressure system, which had formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal-north Odisha coasts. By 5:30 a.m. on August 16, the system had moved northwestward and intensified into a depression, positioned near coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh. Officials noted that the depression was expected to move further northwest toward Jharkhand across Gangetic West Bengal in the next 24 hours. The IMD issued a "red warning" for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Balasore, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj districts, while an "orange warning" was issued for 11 districts including Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Cuttack.#india_meteorological_department #balasore #mohan_charan_majhi #mayurbhanj #keonjhar
Five Districts in Odisha Flooded After Heavy Rainfall, Evacuations Underway At least five districts in the eastern Indian state of Odisha have been impacted by fresh flooding following two days of intense rainfall, prompting authorities to initiate evacuations of residents from low-lying areas and establish relief centers. Officials confirmed that Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Keonjhar districts have been affected, with water levels rising in key rivers such as the Jalaka, Budhabalanga, and Subarnarekha. The floods have disrupted local communities, with rescue and relief operations underway to assist displaced residents. Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Pravakar Patil stated that villagers in 45 gram panchayats across Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts are being evacuated to relief centers, where cooked food and essential supplies are being distributed. The rising water levels in the Jalaka and Budhabalanga rivers have caused significant flooding in Balasore town, Basta, and Bhograi areas, with relief materials provided to affected residents. Patil also highlighted that the Subarnarekha River is swelling, prompting cautionary measures in the Balasore district. A total of 17 rescue teams, including 10 from the Odisha Disaster Response Force (ODRAF) and seven from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have been deployed to the affected districts. Fire services personnel have also been mobilized to support rescue and relief efforts. In Keonjhar district, floods were reported due to increased water levels in the Baitarani River, with Joda, Champua, Barbil, and Anandapur blocks experiencing severe impacts. A breach in the Anandapur ring embankment led to water entering localities, and floodwaters were observed flowing over a state highway near Serenda.#odisha #balasore #mayurbhanj #bhadrak #jajpur
Thunderstorm Alert Across Odisha: IMD Issues Orange and Yellow Warnings for Multiple Districts The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued thunderstorm and rainfall alerts for several districts in Odisha, spanning the next five days. An Orange Warning has been specifically issued for Mayurbhanj district on Tuesday, with additional Yellow Warnings for other regions. The weather office has warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail, and gusty winds in parts of the state. On the first day of the alert, from March 17 at 8:30 AM, light to moderate rain or thunderstorms are expected in coastal, northern, and interior regions of Odisha. Districts likely to receive rainfall include Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Boudh. Rainfall may also occur at one or two places in Rayagada, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Nawarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Gajapati. The Orange Warning for Mayurbhanj predicts thunderstorms with lightning, hail, and gusty winds reaching 50–60 kmph in isolated areas. Thunderstorms with winds of 40–50 kmph are also likely in Keonjhar, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri. A Yellow Warning has been issued for Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Bolangir, Boudh, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal, where thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 30–40 kmph may occur. On the second day, from March 17 at 8:30 AM to March 18 at 8:30 AM, light to moderate rain or thunderstorms are expected in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Malkangiri, Koraput, Nawarangpur, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, and Keonjhar, while the rest of Odisha may experience dry weather.#odisha #india_meteorological_department #balasore #mayurbhanj #keonjhar
Unsafe Journey: NU Taekwondo Girls Team Forced to Travel in Overcrowded Train Without Reservation A trip to a national tournament turned chaotic for the Nagpur University (NU) girls’ taekwondo team after they were compelled to travel in an overcrowded coach of the Falaknuma Express without confirmed reservations. According to university officials, one of the girls slapped a passenger after being pushed in the crowd, leading to a minor scuffle near Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha on Sunday morning. NU sports director Sambhaji Bhosale told The Times of India that the 12-member team had reservations only up to Bhubaneswar and had to board a crowded coach of the Falaknuma Express to reach Balasore (Baleshwar) for a national-level tournament scheduled from March 16. He stated that the athletes were frightened during the incident. The team was accompanied by manager Bharati Kanojia and coach Narayan Waghade. The connecting train was packed with devotees traveling for a local festival. “The journey from Bhubaneswar to Balasore takes about two hours, and the train halts for barely five minutes at stations. At one of the stops, a girl standing near the gate felt she was pushed amid the rush, leading to an argument during which she slapped a youth who had asked her to step aside. A few others then gathered, and there was commotion,” Bhosale said. He added that the team’s manager and coach alerted railway authorities. The girl later lodged an FIR with the RPF at the next station. “The girl involved, and the team’s coach visited the railway police station to complete formalities, while the rest of the team reached the venue and completed tournament registration,” Bhosale said. The sports director also questioned the team management’s decision not to arrange a taxi or bus for the onward journey.#times_of_india #nagpur_university #falaknuma_express #bhubaneswar #balasore
