--- title: "North Odisha floods persist as IMD warns of continued rains till Aug 18" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/odisha-floods-depression-imd-iarji publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Society published: 2026-08-17T06:32:28.941Z modified: 2026-08-17T08:00:07.612Z language: en-IN --- # North Odisha floods persist as IMD warns of continued rains till Aug 18 North Odisha faces grim floods with over 2.37 lakh evacuated. IMD warns of heavy rains as a depression moves northwest from the Bay of Bengal, prompting widespread warnings and mobilization. ## Key takeaways - A depression forming from a Bay of Bengal system has intensified and is driving continued heavy rainfall in north Odisha. - Over 2.37 lakh people have been evacuated to safety across nearly 300 relief camps, with large-scale rescue operations underway. - Warning codes from IMD (red, orange, yellow) cover multiple districts, indicating varying levels of risk and required preparedness. - Fishermen have been advised to avoid sea activity until at least August 18 due to rough sea conditions. - The Chief Minister may undertake an on-the-spot assessment in Bhadrak and Jajpur as the situation develops. ## What Happened The north Odisha flood situation remained severe on Monday as a depression formed from a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal intensified. Officials said more than 2.37 lakh people have been evacuated to safety and sheltered in nearly 300 relief camps located along river embankments and in schools. A relief and rescue push is underway with around 100 rescue teams deployed in vulnerable pockets, and senior engineers from the Water Resources Department being dispatched to affected areas to protect embankments and mitigate impact. The state government cancelled leaves for employees and schools remained closed for the day due to inclement weather. In Kendrapara, a newly constructed section of NH-53 caved in after heavy rains, leaving a truck overturned in a ditch. The Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is expected to visit Bhadrak and Jajpur to assess the calamity on the ground. IMD issued multiple warnings based on the evolving system. A red warning was issued for Balasore, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, while orange warnings covered 11 districts including Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul and Dhenkanal. Yellow alerts were issued for Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh, indicating heavy rains are possible. The system was located over coastal West Bengal and adjoining areas of Bangladesh, about 80 km west-southwest of Satkhira, 160 km southeast of Bankura, and 180 km northeast of Balasore, Odisha, as of 5:30 am on August 17, 2026. It was expected to move northwest toward Jharkhand across Gangetic West Bengal within the next 24 hours. Officials cautioned fishermen to stay away from the sea in the North Bay of Bengal and along the coasts of West Bengal, Bangladesh, Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh until August 18, due to rough sea conditions expected with the depression. ## Why It Matters The floods have affected about half a million people in north Odisha, disrupting daily life and placing pressure on emergency services. The intensity and duration of rainfall in the coming days are likely to determine the scale of further evacuations, flood control measures, and relief distribution. With a high alert in place across multiple districts, the coming 24 to 72 hours are critical for protecting lives, infrastructure and embankments that border rivers in the region. ## Background The weather system originated as a well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining parts of West Bengal and Odisha, which intensified into a depression. The IMD noted the depression forming from this system and forecast continued heavy rainfall as it tracked toward Jharkhand via West Bengal in the immediate future, prompting broader weather warnings across northern Odisha and neighboring states. ## Key Facts - Five lakh people affected in north Odisha by floods (as reported in the coverage). - 2.37 lakh people evacuated and sheltered in nearly 300 relief camps. - Over 100 rescue teams deployed; senior Water Resources engineers dispatched to Bhadrak and Jajpur to protect embankments. - IMD warnings: red for Balasore, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj; orange for 11 districts including Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal; yellow for Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh. - Depression expected to move NW toward Jharkhand across Gangetic West Bengal within 24 hours. - Balasore recorded 93.1 mm rainfall by 5:30 am on August 17, 2026. - Chief Minister may conduct on-spot assessment in Bhadrak and Jajpur; schools and government offices affected by weather. - Fishermen advised not to venture into the sea until August 18 due to rough sea conditions. ## What Happens Next Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the depression as it moves northwest, with ongoing rescue and relief operations in the worst-hit districts. The government may expand or adjust relief camps and embankment protection measures in response to shifting rainfall patterns and flood extents, while possibilities of further assessments by top officials could shape contingency planning for the coming days. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/odisha-floods-depression-imd-iarji Reported from: Multiple Sources