Odisha on high alert as deep depression nears, red alert in 4 districts
Synopsis
A Bay of Bengal depression is intensifying toward a deep depression and is set to cross the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh coast between Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam on the night of 23 September. With red alerts active in four districts and winds gusting up to 75 kmph, Odisha's entire southern belt faces a high-risk 48-hour window — and fishermen have been told to stay off the sea until 26 September.
Key Takeaways
The Odisha government placed all departments on high alert on 22 September 2026 ahead of an intensifying Bay of Bengal depression.
The system is 200 km southeast of Gopalpur and expected to deepen into a deep depression within 12 hours , crossing the coast on the night of 23 September .
Red alerts issued for Ganjam , Gajapati , Koraput , and Rayagada on 22 September ; alerts shift inland through 24 September .
Winds of 55–65 kmph , gusting to 75 kmph , are expected along the coast; landslide risk flagged in hilly zones.
Fishermen advised not to venture into the sea until the early morning of 26 September ; Cautionary Signal No.
3 hoisted at all Odisha ports.
The Odisha government on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, placed all departments and field-level personnel on high alert as a depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a deep depression within 12 hours and make landfall along the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam. Several districts in southern Odisha have already witnessed heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours, and the system is forecast to bring extremely heavy rain through 24 September.
System Position and Track
IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty said the depression currently lies over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, approximately 200 km southeast of Gopalpur and 210 km south of Puri. It has been moving westward at a speed of 18 kmph over the past six hours. The system is expected to move west-northwestward and cross the coast during the night of 23 September and the early hours of 24 September.
Mohanty warned that the landfall region can expect strong winds of 55–65 kmph, gusting up to 75 kmph, alongside heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. All ports along the Odisha coast have hoisted Local Cautionary Signal Number Three.
District-wise Alerts
For 22 September, a red alert — indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy spells — has been issued for Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, and Rayagada. An orange alert covers Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khurda, and Puri.
For 23 September, the red alert shifts to Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi, with isolated heavy rainfall also likely in Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Balangir, and Nuapada. For 24 September, a red alert has been issued for Nabarangpur, while an orange alert covers Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Balangir, and Bargarh.
What Authorities Are Asking People to Do
Officials have advised the general public to avoid waterlogged and low-lying areas, remain indoors during heavy rain and strong winds, and follow instructions from local administration and IMD. Mohanty specifically flagged risks of landslides and mudslides in vulnerable hilly zones, and warned that weak structures and vegetation such as banana and papaya plants could be damaged.
Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea until the early morning of 26 September, as sea conditions along the Odisha coast are expected to remain rough to very rough with squally weather.
Context and Risk
Odisha's southern coast — particularly the Ganjam–Gajapati–Koraput belt — has historically borne the brunt of Bay of Bengal cyclonic systems. The state has invested significantly in disaster preparedness infrastructure following repeated cyclone impacts, including Cyclone Fani in 2019. This comes amid an active Bay of Bengal season, and the current system's trajectory closely mirrors past events that caused significant flooding and displacement in coastal and interior Odisha districts. The coming 48–72 hours will be critical as the system approaches and crosses the coast.
Point of View
But the shifting red-alert zone — moving from coastal Ganjam on 22 September to inland Nabarangpur by the 24th — signals that the real flood risk may materialise after landfall, not at the coast. Interior districts with weaker drainage and hilly terrain face a compounded threat of flooding and landslides that tends to receive less evacuation attention than the more visible coastal belt. The 48-hour lag in risk communication to inland communities remains a structural gap worth watching.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which districts in Odisha are under red alert for the deep depression?
On 22 September, red alerts have been issued for Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, and Rayagada. On 23 September, the red alert covers Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi. On 24 September, Nabarangpur remains under red alert.
When is the deep depression expected to make landfall in Odisha?
The system is expected to cross the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam during the night of 23 September and the early hours of 24 September, according to IMD Bhubaneswar.
What should fishermen and coastal residents do?
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until early morning on 26 September. Local Cautionary Signal Number Three has been hoisted at all Odisha ports, and residents are urged to remain indoors and avoid waterlogged areas.
What kind of weather hazards are expected with this system?
The system is forecast to bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across southern Odisha districts from 22 to 24 September, with strong winds of 55–65 kmph gusting up to 75 kmph. Landslides, mudslides, and damage to weak structures are also possible, particularly in hilly interior areas.
Where is the depression currently located?
As of the latest update, the depression lies over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, about 200 km southeast of Gopalpur and 210 km south of Puri, moving westward at 18 kmph.
