Odisha Rain Fury Sparks Flood Fear As Rivers Cross Danger Mark, 14,500 Evacuated

Odisha faced a fresh flood threat on Friday as torrential rain triggered waterlogging, landslides and road disruptions across 10 districts, prompting authorities to evacuate nearly 14,500 people from low-lying and landslide-prone areas.

The deep depression, which made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast a day earlier, moved into Odisha and brought heavy to very heavy rain. At least 63 places recorded over 100 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, while three received more than 300 mm. Tentulikhunti in Nabarangpur recorded the highest rainfall at 395 mm, followed by Nandahandi at 344 mm and Boriguma in Koraput at 307.8 mm.

Around 14,479 people were moved to 2,061 relief centres, where cooked food was being served. Pregnant women were shifted to hospitals as a precaution, while schools were closed in some districts.

The rain affected 857 villages, with Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Bolangir among the affected districts. Gajapati reported the highest number of affected villages at 189.

Water levels in the Jalaka, Budhabalanga, Baitarani and Kani rivers crossed danger marks, raising concerns of another flood after Odisha had already experienced two rounds of flooding since the monsoon began.

However, Water Resources Department engineer-in-chief Dilip Kumar Rout said a major flood was not expected immediately as rainfall intensity had declined.

Malkangiri saw 2,259 people rescued, while water flowing over NH-326 stranded vehicles. A portion of NH-53 caved in at Kendrapara, while landslides disrupted traffic in Kandhamal and Gajapati. Railway tracks were also affected in Rayagada.

The IMD said the depression had weakened and moved towards Chhattisgarh, but heavy rain remained possible in several districts, including Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada and Nabarangpur, until Saturday morning.