Deep depression floods Odisha: 8,082 evacuated, red alert in Nabarangpur
Synopsis
A Bay of Bengal deep depression has flooded southern and western Odisha, prompting the evacuation of over 8,000 people across 173 villages. With Nabarangpur under a Red Warning and six districts on Orange Alert, the state is racing to restore normalcy before the system exits into Chhattisgarh — and authorities say conditions should stabilise by September 26.
Key Takeaways
A deep depression from the Bay of Bengal crossed the North Andhra Pradesh coast and moved into Odisha on 24 September 2026 .
8,082 of 8,205 affected people have been evacuated; operations are ongoing across 37 blocks and 173 villages .
Koraput's Semiliguda recorded the highest rainfall at 193.9 mm in 24 hours.
The IMD has issued a Red Warning for Nabarangpur and an Orange Warning for six other districts.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said conditions are expected to normalise by 26 September .
ODRAF and Fire Services teams are deployed statewide; relief centres are equipped with food, doctors, and medicines.
A deep depression originating over the Bay of Bengal battered several parts of Odisha on Thursday, 24 September, triggering heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across southern and western districts, with over 8,000 people evacuated to safety. The system crossed the North Andhra Pradesh coast during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday before moving inland, leaving a trail of inundation, landslides, fallen trees, and power disruptions.
Rainfall Intensity and Affected Districts
Several southern and western districts recorded over 100 mm of rainfall in the preceding 24 hours. Koraput's Semiliguda topped the charts with 193.9 mm of rain, followed by Tangi in Khordha at 142 mm, G Udayagiri in Kandhamal at 125.4 mm, Paralakhemundi at 121.4 mm, and Gosani at 120 mm. Districts including Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi have borne the brunt of the storm's impact.
Scale of Evacuation and Relief Operations
A total of 8,205 people have been reported affected across rainfall-impacted zones, of whom 8,082 have been evacuated to safer locations, according to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari. The evacuation is ongoing. The storm has affected 173 villages in 127 gram panchayats across 37 blocks, along with five urban local bodies covering 220 wards. Relief centres have been stocked with food, medicines, and paramedical staff. Teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and the Fire Services Department are deployed statewide to clear roads of fallen trees and restore access.
What the Government Said
Speaking after a review meeting, Minister Suresh Pujari described the situation as 'under control' while cautioning that heavy rainfall is expected to continue in several southern districts for at least another 24 hours. He said district administrations in Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, and neighbouring areas had been put on alert as the system tracks inland. Conditions are expected to return to normal by 26 September, he added. A landslide was also reported from Gajapati, where Fisheries Minister Gokulananda Mallick was personally monitoring the situation. Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik was overseeing relief in Koraput. Four senior officials have been deployed to various districts to assess ground conditions.
IMD Warnings and System Trajectory
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Warning for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Nabarangpur district, while an Orange Warning is in effect for Koraput, Malkangiri, Bargarh, Nuapada, Balangir, and Kalahandi. The IMD noted the system is gradually weakening as it moves northwest, tracking toward Balangir and subsequently Bargarh before crossing into Chhattisgarh. This comes amid Odisha's historically high vulnerability to Bay of Bengal depressions during the September-October transition period — the state has faced similar cyclone-linked evacuation operations multiple times over the past decade.
What to Watch
Authorities are monitoring river levels in southern Odisha closely, as rising waters pose a secondary flood risk even after rainfall eases. With the system expected to weaken further into Chhattisgarh over the coming days, the immediate outlook for coastal Odisha is improving — but districts on the system's inland path remain on high alert through 25 September.
Point of View
000 people moved before casualties mounted — reflects a disaster-response machinery the state has painstakingly built after the catastrophic 1999 super cyclone. What the numbers also reveal, however, is the chronic exposure of the same belt of southern districts to every Bay of Bengal weather event, raising questions about how much of this is manageable crisis response and how much is structural neglect of drainage, embankment, and forest cover in Koraput, Ganjam, and Gajapati. The deployment of three ministers to different districts signals political attentiveness, but the test will be the speed of post-flood restoration — roads, power, and crop damage assessments — in the days after the cameras move on.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused heavy rain and flooding in Odisha on 24 September 2026?
A deep depression formed over the Bay of Bengal crossed the North Andhra Pradesh coast during the night of 23-24 September and moved inland into Odisha, bringing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across southern and western districts. The system is gradually weakening as it tracks northwest toward Chhattisgarh.
How many people have been evacuated in Odisha due to the deep depression?
As of 24 September, 8,082 of 8,205 affected people have been evacuated to relief centres, according to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari. The evacuation covers 173 villages across 37 blocks and five urban local bodies spanning 220 wards.
Which districts in Odisha are under IMD red and orange warnings?
The India Meteorological Department has issued a Red Warning for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Nabarangpur district. Orange Warnings are in effect for Koraput, Malkangiri, Bargarh, Nuapada, Balangir, and Kalahandi districts.
When will the situation in Odisha return to normal?
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said conditions are expected to normalise by 26 September as the deep depression weakens and moves into Chhattisgarh. Rainfall is likely to continue in Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Rayagada, and Koraput in the short term.
Which agencies are handling disaster relief in Odisha?
The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and the Fire Services Department have been deployed statewide to clear roads and support evacuations. Relief centres have been set up with food, doctors, paramedical staff, and medicines. Four senior officials have also been dispatched to affected districts to assess the situation on the ground.
