Odisha Faces Disruption as Heavy Rain Triggers Landslides and Flooding

Severe Weather Impacts Daily Life in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Parts of Odisha, especially the southern regions of Koraput and Malkangiri, are experiencing significant disruptions due to heavy rainfall caused by a low-pressure system, which has resulted in landslides and flooding of key roads, officials reported on Saturday.

In Malkangiri district, rainwater has risen approximately three feet over a bridge on National Highway 326 in MV-96 village, halting traffic between Malkangiri, Motu, and Jeypore.

The heavy rains have also severely impacted interstate travel between Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, with water covering the national highway, leaving trucks carrying essential goods stranded, according to a revenue department official.

Koraput recorded 26.7 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 AM on Saturday, which triggered landslides on hilly routes. One landslide blocked the Baijaghati-Kerenga hill road, disrupting access between Damanjodi and Narayanpatna, officials noted.

The landslide occurred early Saturday morning, and efforts to clear the road are currently underway.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall across 20 of the state's 30 districts, with rain expected to persist until August 19 due to the ongoing low-pressure system.

This low-pressure area is anticipated to move along the northern coastal region of Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha.

In the past 24 hours, districts such as Koraput, Nuapada, Jajpur, Kendrapara, and Cuttack have experienced above-average rainfall, while Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, and Bolangir have also recorded significant precipitation.

According to the latest forecast from IMD, a new low-pressure area is expected to develop over the northwest Bay of Bengal near the Odisha coast around August 18, which will likely enhance rainfall activity across eastern and central India.