Odisha evacuated over 2.37 lakh as IMD issues red alert for heavy rain
Officials say more heavy rain is expected as a fresh low-pressure system intensified in the Bay of Bengal. The state has mobilised rescue teams and evacuated hundreds of thousands while warning authorities to stay on high alert.
Key takeaways
- A fresh low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal prompted an IMD red alert and widespread evacuation in Odisha on Aug 16, 2026.
- About 2.37 lakh people were moved to safety, with 293 relief camps set up and 90 rescue teams on duty.
- Flooding affected nearly 5.15 lakh people across 947 villages, with embankment safety and river levels under close watch.
What Happened
On August 16, 2026, Odisha authorities raised their alert level in response to forecasts of very heavy rainfall from the IMD, driven by a fresh low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. The government reported that more than 2.37 lakh people had been evacuated to safety as rain persisted for a second day. A high alert was declared across the state, with officials cancelling leaves for government staff and directing district collectors to remain vigilant for three days (August 16–18).
Additionally, authorities said flooding had affected about 5.15 lakh people across 947 villages in 331 gram panchayats, five urban areas, and 49 blocks. A total of 293 relief camps were in operation to shelter evacuees. Three senior IAS officers were dispatched to Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur to coordinate relief and rescue operations, while engineers from the Water Resources Department were deployed to monitor embankments and carry out repairs if needed. Roughly 90 rescue teams were deployed in vulnerable areas, including units from ODRAF, NDRF and Fire Services, with participation also from health, water resources, housing and urban development, and fisheries departments.
The IMD issued a red alert for several parts of the state and advised fishermen against venturing into the sea along the coasts of West Bengal, Odisha, Bangladesh and north Andhra Pradesh from August 16 to 18. The weather office updated that the low-pressure area over the northwestern Bay of Bengal and adjacent coasts had consolidated into a well-marked system around 2:30 p.m. on August 16 and was likely to move northwest and intensify into a depression within the next 24 hours.
In ongoing flood monitoring, officials reported continuing grim conditions in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar, with the Baitarani, Brahmani, Salandi, Jalaka and Budhabalanga rivers and their tributaries contributing to the crisis. While the Subarnarekha’s water level at Rajghat in Jaleswar had fallen to 9.21 metres, still below the danger mark of 10.36 metres, authorities kept a close watch on the evolving situation.
Why It Matters
The coordinated emergency response reflects an extensive mobilization of personnel, equipment and shelter infrastructure intended to limit casualties and reduce damage as a fresh monsoon-induced flood event unfolds. The forecast of continued very heavy rainfall raises the likelihood of renewed flooding in affected districts and potentially new impacts on transport routes, housing and essential services.
Background
Odisha has faced recurring floods during the monsoon season, with districts such as Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur repeatedly affected in recent years. Authorities routinely activate high-alert protocols and deploy multiple agencies to support evacuation, relief distribution and embankment safety as part of standard disaster-management procedures during extreme rainfall events.
Key Facts
- Evacuated people: over 2.37 lakh
- Areas under fresh impact: 947 villages across 331 gram panchayats in 49 blocks and five urban areas
- Relief camps: 293
- Rescue teams deployed: ~90 (including 36 ODRAF, 7 NDRF, 47 Fire Services)
- Senior officials deployed to Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur
- Low-pressure area consolidated into a well-marked system around 2:30 p.m. on Aug 16
- IMD red alert issued for parts of the state; fishermen advised to avoid the sea Aug 16–18
- Subarnarekha river level at Rajghat in Jaleswar: 9.21 m (below danger level 10.36 m)
What Happens Next
The IMD forecast for three days of very heavy rainfall will shape district-level relief operations, embankment safety checks and continued shelter management. Officials indicated ongoing high-alert status, with further updates planned as the flood situation evolves and more precise rainfall projections become available.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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