Kalahandi Ret Dam breaches amid heavy rains; southern Odisha faces crop loss as IMD issues red alert

Kalahandi district in Odisha is facing severe flooding and widespread disruption as heavy rainfall continues since Thursday night, following the formation of a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal that has intensified into a depression.

Compounding the woes, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Kalahandi, Koraput, and Malkangiri districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall, with the formation of a depression over the Bay of Bengal.

Breaches, Structural Damage And Crop Loss

Sources reported that the relentless downpour caused the main canal of the Bhawanipatna Ret Dam to breach, submerging vast stretches of farmland and threatening standing crops.

In addition, a decorative shed being constructed near the Bhawanipatna Jagannath Temple for the Manikeswari festival collapsed due to waterlogging and strong winds.

Reports also added that trees have been uprooted across the district, and homes in several villages have been partially submerged. The persistent rain has disrupted daily routines and posed immediate challenges to public safety.

Administrative And Emergency Response

In response, the Kalahandi District Collector cancelled all leaves for government officials and field staff, instructing them to return to headquarters immediately. Officers have been directed not to leave their offices without explicit permission until September 28.

All fire stations and emergency services in the district are on full standby, ready to respond to flooding, landslides, or other rain-related emergencies.

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Meteorological Forecast

The IMD has forecast that the heavy to very heavy rainfall will continue until September 28, raising the risk of waterlogging, localised flooding, and potential crop damage.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are expected across multiple districts. Coastal and eastern Odisha may experience wind speeds between 40–60 kmph, making sea conditions unsafe.

The weather department also cautioned that the depression could exacerbate flooding in other western Odisha districts, including Koraput and Malkangiri.