Odisha Faces Monsoon Fury as Heavy Rains Trigger Fatal Wall Collapse and Statewide Alerts
Odisha is grappling with the full force of the monsoon as continuous heavy rainfall has begun to impact daily life across multiple districts. In Nuapada, the intensity of the downpour led to the collapse of an under-construction poultry farm wall, killing two women and injuring an eight-year-old girl. The tragic incident occurred in Lakhana area on Sunday, highlighting the growing threat posed by relentless rains in rural and semi-urban pockets of the state.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain alert for 16 of Odisha’s 30 districts, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and wind speeds reaching up to 40 kmph. A low-pressure system over Gangetic West Bengal and its westward drift is driving the extreme weather, impacting both coastal and interior regions. Areas including Bhubaneswar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, and Angul have reported steady rainfall, with forecasts indicating that the showers will continue through the week.
The IMD has categorized districts such as Keonjhar, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Nuapada under an orange warning, signalling the need for preparedness and potential action. Yellow warnings were issued for districts including Balangir, Kalahandi, Nayagarh, and Cuttack. The state government has mobilised its disaster response teams, while district collectors have been instructed to activate local contingency plans and ensure food and shelter availability.
In Balasore, continuous rainfall since Sunday has flooded roads, and water has entered crop fields in several areas of Sundargarh and Jharsuguda. With rising water levels in the Mahanadi river basin, the authorities have opened 20 sluice gates at Hirakud Dam to manage the inflow. According to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, while river levels remain below danger marks, round-the-clock monitoring is underway.
The state’s preparedness includes deploying ODRAF and NDRF teams and keeping relief materials like dry food and polythene sheets on standby. Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea due to rough weather conditions.
As Odisha braces for more rain, the monsoon has made its mark not only through showers but through the increasing urgency to safeguard lives, property, and crops.
