Relentless rains paralyse southwestern Odisha, batter Dussehra festivities

Incessant rains have caused widespread disruption across the southern and western parts of Odisha, triggering flash floods, damaging infrastructure, and putting Dussehra festivities at stake on Thursday.

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

In Gajapati district’s R. Udayagiri region, heavy rainfall led to the Sankha river overflowing into Pattnaik Colony. Floodwaters have entered homes, submerged vehicles, and inundated local roads, including a footbridge that is now under high water flow.

Meanwhile, in Koraput, the torrential downpour has battered the region, severely affecting connectivity. At Bangalaguda, near National Highway-326 connecting Koraput-Rayagada, floodwaters are flowing over a temporary bridge, forcing vehicles to take alternate routes as the structure becomes unsafe.

In the Nuapada district, heavy showers in the morning disrupted ongoing Dussehra celebrations. Puja committees and organisers are in a fix as events like Durga idol immersion, Ravana effigy burning, and Bhasani processions may be cancelled due to weather concerns.

Adding to the woes, a bridge over the Guruma canal has been affected, with a section of its guard wall washed away and the approach road submerged — possibly cutting off nearby the villages from rest parts of the district.

Persistent Deep Depression over the Bay of Bengal region still continues to trigger heavy rainfall, raising alarms for more disruptions in the days ahead.

In its mid-day bulletin, India Meteorological Department (IMD) regional centre stated, “The Deep Depression over westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal (BoB) moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph and lay centered at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 2nd October 2025, over the same region near latitude 18.0N and longitude 85.6E, about 160 km south-southeast of Gopalpur, 170 km east of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 200 km south of Puri (Odisha), 250 km east-northeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 280 km south-southwest of Paradip (Odisha).”

“It is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards and cross Odisha and adjoining Andhra Pradesh coasts between Gopalpur and Paradip by night of 2nd October,” the IMD regional centre further said.

Warning and forecast in Odisha districts for the next 24 hours

For Thursday (Valid up to 0830 hrs IST of 03.10.2025)

Light to moderate rain or thundershower is very likely to occur at most places over the districts of Odisha.

Red Warning: (Take Action)- Scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls and thunderstorms with lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph are very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Puri, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Ganjam, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.

Orange Warning: (Be Prepared)- Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms with lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speeds reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph are very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, Malkangiri, Bolangir, Subarnapur, Boudh, Balasore, Nabarangpur, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Angul, Jajpur, and Kendrapara.

Yellow Warning: (Be Aware)- Isolated heavy rainfall and thunderstorms with lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph are very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Nuapada.