The flood situation in north Odisha remained grim on Monday, with around five lakh people affected as the low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression, officials said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain across several districts.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is likely to visit the worst-hit Bhadrak and Jajpur districts later in the day to assess the situation on the ground, the Chief Minister's Office said.
Over 2.37 lakh people evacuated
More than 2.37 lakh people have been moved to safer locations and are staying in nearly 300 relief camps set up on river embankments and in schools, according to the state government.
The government has cancelled leave for employees as authorities step up relief and rescue operations. Schools and other educational institutions remained closed on Monday because of the adverse weather conditions.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said around 100 rescue teams had been deployed in vulnerable areas of north Odisha. Senior engineers from the Water Resources Department were also sent to the affected areas to protect embankments and reduce the impact of flooding.
Three senior officers were deputed to Bhadrak, Jajpur and Balasore to oversee rescue and relief operations.
IMD issues red, orange warnings
The IMD said the well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal-north Odisha coast moved northwestwards and intensified into a depression.
At 5.30 am, the system was located over coastal West Bengal and adjoining areas of Bangladesh. It was about 180 km northeast of Balasore in Odisha, according to the IMD bulletin.
The depression is expected to move northwest towards Jharkhand across Gangetic West Bengal over the next 24 hours.
The weather office issued a red warning for Balasore, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, forecasting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in some areas.
An orange warning was issued for 11 districts, including Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack and Sambalpur. A yellow warning for heavy rain was issued for Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh.
Three days crucial for north Odisha
Garg said the administration was on high alert after the IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall from August 16 to 18.
"These three days are crucial for the north Odisha districts," the chief secretary said, directing officials to provide all possible assistance to affected residents.
The IMD has also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea in the North Bay of Bengal and along the coasts of West Bengal, Bangladesh, Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh until August 18, warning that sea conditions are likely to remain rough.
Balasore town recorded 93.1 mm of rainfall up to 5.30 am on Monday.