A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is moving towards the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast and is expected to cross tonight.
The system is likely to cross near Kalingapatnam between tonight and early hours of tomorrow, bringing very heavy to extremely heavy rain and squally winds.
Odisha has intensified preparedness, with disaster-response teams deployed and schools closed in several vulnerable districts.
Heavy to very heavy rain is continuing over several parts of southern and coastal Odisha, with Koraput, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri among the affected areas.
The IMD has issued red warnings for several southern districts, with extremely heavy rainfall possible at isolated places, and warned of gusty winds reaching up to 60 to 70 kilometres per hour.
The deep depression is expected to cross near Kalingapatnam between tonight and early hours of tomorrow and move inland through southern Odisha, including Koraput and Rayagada.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the situation and directed the administration to maintain the highest level of preparedness.
Thirty-three ODRAF teams have been deployed or kept on standby. Schools and Anganwadi centres have been closed in several vulnerable districts, while government employees’ leave has been cancelled in affected areas.