The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for six Odisha districts — Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Angul — citing extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall expected over the next 48 hours.
Thunderstorms and lightning are also forecast for the region. The IMD has cautioned that the rain could bring landslides in hilly areas and flash floods in low-lying stretches.
The alert follows a Low Pressure Area over the West Bengal coast intensifying into a Well-marked Pressure Area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coasts, as of 5:30 am IST on Sunday.
Fishermen have been told not to venture into the deep sea or adjoining coastal areas for the next four days given the rough sea conditions.
A separate red alert has been issued for Central Maharashtra this week as heavy rainfall continues to affect several states.
(Image: McKay Savage (CC BY 2.0))