Odisha flood situation grim as water level of many rivers rising, IMD forecasts more rains
Heavy rainfall in Odisha has caused severe flooding, affecting nearly one million people and prompting large-scale evacuations. The India Meteorological Department has issued further warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms across several districts.
Why it matters
The flooding represents a significant humanitarian crisis and highlights the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in the region due to climate patterns.
The depression-induced heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours has worsened the flood situation in Odisha's northern districts on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) as the water level of many rivers are rising, officials said.
After visiting the marooned villages in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held a high-level review meeting on the prevailing situation and discussed the immediate steps needed to be taken, as 9.40 lakh people are affected by the floods.
The CM said 3.30 lakh affected people have been evacuated by the State government. Though the depression that formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal has moved over Jharkhand and adjoining northern parts of Gangetic West Bengal, the IMD has forecast that very heavy rainfall may persist in parts of Odisha on Tuesday (August 18, 2026).
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