THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 16, 2026

Odisha on Sunday went into full-scale disaster preparedness mode as a fresh low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal intensified the threat of torrential rain, swelling rivers and renewed flooding across several districts. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting extremely heavy rainfall over the next three days, the State government has cancelled leave for all government employees and ordered a massive mobilisation of rescue, relief and administrative machinery.

The situation remained particularly grave in northern Odisha, where relentless rain for the second consecutive day compounded the suffering of flood-affected communities. More than 2.37 lakh people have so far been evacuated and moved to 293 relief camps, while fresh flooding has affected around 5.15 lakh people in 947 villages under 331 gram panchayats across 49 blocks and five urban areas, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said.

Reviewing the unfolding situation following the latest IMD forecast, Garg directed district Collectors to remain on maximum alert and ensure round-the-clock preparedness. “We have asked the district collectors to remain on high alert as the IMD forecasts very heavy rain for three days from August 16 to 18,” she told reporters.

In a significant administrative move, the government has cancelled the leave of all employees, directing those already on leave to report for duty immediately. Three senior IAS officers have been dispatched to the worst-hit districts of Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur to coordinate with local administrations and closely monitor rescue and relief operations.

The Water Resources Department has also strengthened its field presence, deploying additional chief engineers to monitor vulnerable embankments and undertake immediate repairs wherever breaches occur. Nearly 90 rescue teams, comprising 36 ODRAF, seven NDRF and 47 Fire Services teams, have been deployed across vulnerable locations.

Personnel from the Health, Water Resources, Housing and Urban Development, Fisheries and Animal Resources departments have also been mobilised to support emergency operations and provide essential services to affected communities.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, directed all urban authorities to remain on high alert and ensure a swift, coordinated response to any emerging crisis. As part of efforts to maintain public confidence and keep citizens informed, urban authorities have also been asked to regularly communicate their preparedness and field-level actions through press briefings and social media updates.

The weather system has added a fresh layer of concern to an already fragile flood situation. The IMD has issued a red alert for several parts of Odisha and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh, Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coasts from August 16 to 18.

According to the latest IMD bulletin, the low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal-north Odisha coasts became a well-marked low-pressure area at 2.30 pm on Sunday. The system is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a depression within the next 24 hours, raising the possibility of further heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across parts of the State.

The flood situation remained grim in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar, according to sources in the office of the Special Relief Commissioner. Floodwaters have affected areas along the Baitarani, Brahmani, Salandi, Jalaka and Budhabalanga rivers and their tributaries, putting additional pressure on already vulnerable communities and infrastructure.

There was, however, a small measure of relief on the Subarnarekha front. After rising steadily, the river level began receding on Sunday morning and was recorded at 9.21 metres at Rajghat in Jaleswar, below the danger mark of 10.36 metres, officials said.

Even as water levels in some rivers show signs of decline, authorities are refusing to lower their guard. With another potentially powerful weather system developing over the Bay of Bengal, Odisha’s disaster-response machinery remains on a war footing, keeping vulnerable districts under close surveillance and preparing for any fresh surge in rainfall, flooding or embankment breaches.