North Odisha flood situation grim, IMD forecasts more rains till August 18
North Odisha is facing a severe flood crisis affecting five lakh people as a low-pressure system intensifies into a depression. The government has evacuated over 200,000 residents and closed schools while the IMD warns of continued heavy rainfall.
Why it matters
The ongoing climate-related disaster highlights the vulnerability of coastal regions to extreme weather events and the necessity of state-level emergency management.
The flood situation in north Odisha districts, which has affected five lakh people, remained grim on Monday (August 17, 2026) even as the IMD has forecast more rains after the low-pressure system formed in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression, officials said.
Odisha flood situation grim as water level of many rivers rising, IMD forecasts more rains
Keeping in view the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is likely to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of the calamity in the worst-hit Bhadrak and Jajpur districts later during the day, the CMO said.
It said more than 2.37 lakh people have been evacuated to safety and sheltered in nearly 300 relief camps on river embankments and also in schools.
The State government has cancelled leave for employees, and schools and educational institutions remained closed for the day due to inclement weather.
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