Finance
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Warning for Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, and Koraput, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rain in isolated areas over the next 24 hours, as a deep depression over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha is expected to weaken gradually while moving north-northwestward.
At 8.30 a.m. on Thursday, the system was located approximately 80 kilometers south-southeast of Rayagada and 90 kilometers east-southeast of Koraput. It is expected to diminish into a depression by Thursday evening and continue to weaken over the next 24 hours, according to the IMD.
The IMD forecasts light to moderate rain or thundershowers in most parts of Odisha over the next 24 hours. Along with the Red Warning districts, an Orange Warning has been issued for Nuapada, Balangir, Kandhamala, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Gajapati, and Ganjam, where severe to very heavy rain is expected in isolated areas.
A Yellow Warning has been issued for several other districts, including Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Baragada, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Puri, Khordha, and Nayagada. Thunderstorms with lightning and strong gusts are also expected in some areas.
The weather system has already triggered widespread rainfall, with heavy to very heavy rain recorded at one or two places in several districts. Similiguda in Koraput recorded the highest rainfall of 19 cm, followed by Chitrakonda K Guma in Malkangiri with 17 cm and Mahendragarh in Gajapati with 15 cm.
Gusty winds of up to 71 kmph were recorded at Gopalpur, while Bhubaneswar recorded 53 kmph, Puri 65 kmph and Balasore 42 kmph, according to the bulletin.
The IMD has warned of localised flooding, waterlogging, disruption to traffic, damage to vulnerable structures and possible landslides in vulnerable areas due to heavy rainfall. Strong winds may also affect power and communication lines, horticulture and standing crops.
Fishermen should avoid the water over the next 24 hours due to squally weather with gusts of 50-60 kmph, occasionally reaching to 70 kmph, along and off the Odisha coast. The seas are forecast to stay rough to extremely severe. Similar circumstances are expected for September 25.
On the first day of September 25-26, Nuapada is expected to receive an Orange Warning, while numerous western and southern districts will receive Yellow Warnings. On September 26-27, heavy rain is expected in isolated areas of Bargarh and Nuapada.
