20 Odisha districts on alert as low-pressure area likely over Bay of Bengal

Odisha has placed 20 districts on alert as a Bay of Bengal low-pressure system is expected to strengthen. Authorities say preparations are in place, with heavy rain and thunderstorms likely over the coming days.The IMD issued an orange alert for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in 15 Odisha districts over the next 24 hours. (File photo/ Representative)The Odisha government has put 20 districts on alert and asked 10 others to remain vigilant as a low-pressure system is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to intensify into a depression, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Friday. The state said it was prepared to deal with the situation, even as weather officials continued to track the system closely.The India Meteorological Department said an upper-air cyclonic circulation over north Thailand was likely to emerge over the north Andaman Sea on Friday evening and trigger the formation of a low-pressure area over the region on Saturday evening. Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, said, "Thereafter, it is likely to intensify gradually and move towards south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts during subsequent 3-4 days."Mohanty said IMD scientists were closely monitoring the system and would issue further updates as it evolved. While the system was likely to intensify into a depression, the weather office had not made any clear forecast on whether it would develop into a cyclonic storm, she said. "There is nothing to be panicked over the weather system. IMD will inform people at an appropriate time if the system intensifies further. However, intense rainfall activities will begin across south Odisha from September 22," Mohanty said.Pujari said some weather models indicated the possibility of a cyclone. He said 20 districts had been issued a yellow alert for heavy rain, with rainfall of 7 cm to 11 cm expected, and added that the warning could be revised after the low-pressure area formed on Saturday evening. A meeting of senior officials, including Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil, was held and directions were communicated to district collectors, the minister said. Meanwhile, the IMD issued an orange alert for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in 15 districts over the next 24 hours. These are Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj. Heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Mayurbhanj, for which a yellow warning has been issued. Heavy rain is also likely in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj on September 19 and 20, the IMD said. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are also likely in several parts of the state, and a yellow alert has been issued for several districts for thunderstorms from September 20 to 22.For September 22 and 23, an orange warning has been issued for Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangapur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds. The IMD has also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts till September 25, as the state remains on alert and awaits further updates on the weather system. - EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 18, 2026 20:45 IST