Heavy Rainfall and Severe Weather Alert in Odisha A severe weather event has gripped Odisha as heavy rain lashed the state for 24 hours, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a "red warning" for extremely heavy rainfall. The warning, issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, highlighted the intensification of a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, which had become "well marked" and was moving northwestward. The IMD warned that the system could develop into a depression within the next 12 hours, bringing heightened rainfall and potential flooding to the region. The low-pressure area, located over the North Bay of Bengal and adjacent to the Bangladesh-West Bengal coast, was expected to continue its northwestward trajectory, affecting Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, and parts of Chhattisgarh. The IMD advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the North Bay of Bengal and along the Odisha-West Bengal-Bangladesh coast until August 14 due to the hazardous weather conditions. Rainfall measurements recorded by the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar revealed significant precipitation across the state. Bhograi in Balasore district recorded the highest rainfall at 236mm, followed by 230mm at Shyamakhuntam, 215mm at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, and 204mm at Rajghat in Balasore. Balasore town itself saw 137mm of rain by 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, with reports of very heavy rains in Similipal Hills in Mayurbhanj. The intense downpours caused rivers such as Budhabalanga and Jalaka in Balasore district to rise, leading to widespread waterlogging in parts of the town. The heavy rainfall, which began on August 12, prompted authorities to close all educational institutions in Mayurbhanj district on August 13.#odisha #india_meteorological_department #bhubaneswar #balasore_district #mayurbhanj_district
