Deep depression approaches Odisha coast; IMD sounds cautionary signal at Gopalpur, Paradip ports

Heavy rain continued to batter Odisha on Thursday as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal advanced towards the coast, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue multiple alerts across the state.

The system, moving north-northwest at 13 kmph, is expected to cross the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast between Gopalpur and Paradip by Thursday night, informed the IMD.

Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, said the IMD has issued a red alert for Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal, where rainfall is expected to exceed 20 cm till Friday morning.

“The depression lies centred about 160 km south-southeast of Gopalpur, 200 km south of Puri, and 280 km south-southwest of Paradip. Under its influence, all Odisha districts are forecast to receive heavy to moderate rainfall along with wind gusts reaching 50 to 60 kmph,” said Mohanty.

Seven Districts Under Red Alert

The IMD has issued a red alert for Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal, where rainfall exceeding 20 cm is likely at isolated places till Friday morning.

In addition, 16 districts, including Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, Angul, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, and Bolangir, have been placed under orange warning for heavy to very heavy showers in the range of 7 to 20 cm.

Another seven districts in western Odisha are under a yellow alert, with forecast rainfall of 7 to 11 cm.

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Squally Winds and Port Warnings

The depression is also expected to generate squally winds reaching 55–65 kmph, gusting to 75 kmph over central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal.

As a precaution, the IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast till October 3. Local Cautionary Signal No. III has been hoisted at all ports, including Paradip and Gopalpur.