Bhubaneswar, July 29 (UDN): Flood concerns deepened in Odisha on Tuesday night as the Baitarani, Salandi and Jalaka rivers crossed their danger marks following incessant rainfall across the State and in their upper catchment areas. With river levels continuing to rise, the Water Resources Department has stepped up monitoring while district administrations remain on high alert.
Officials warned that a major flood situation may develop in the Baitarani basin, where sustained inflow from upstream areas has significantly increased the river's discharge. The Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) of the Water Resources Department said the evolving situation is being monitored round the clock as continuous rainfall could further aggravate flooding in vulnerable pockets.
The deteriorating river situation comes amid widespread rainfall triggered by a Deep Depression over northern interior Odisha and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal, which has already dumped heavy rain across several districts.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the State government is fully prepared to tackle any flood-related emergency. He said rescue teams, district administrations and emergency responders have been placed on standby, while vulnerable areas are under constant surveillance.
Appealing to people not to panic, the Minister urged residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain alert and cooperate with local authorities if evacuation becomes necessary.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Warning for Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall till Wednesday morning.
The weather agency said the Deep Depression has moved west-northwestwards and is currently centred near the Baripada-Balasore region, continuing to influence weather conditions across Odisha. An Orange Warning has also been issued for 11 districts, where heavy rainfall is likely over the next 24 hours.
With rainfall expected to persist, authorities fear additional runoff could further raise river levels in the northern river basins, increasing the risk of inundation in low-lying villages and urban pockets.
The IMD has advised people to closely monitor weather updates, avoid unnecessary travel during intense rainfall and shift to safer locations if directed by the administration. Residents have also been cautioned against venturing into flooded areas or water bodies and have been asked to stay indoors during thunderstorms and lightning.
The State government said it is maintaining close coordination between the Water Resources Department, district administrations and disaster response agencies to ensure swift action in case the flood situation worsens over the next 24 hours.
