IMD Issues Red Alert As Deep Depression Hits Odisha-West Bengal Coast

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a high-priority warning on Tuesday for extreme rainfall across Odisha and West Bengal. A deep depression formed over the North Bay of Bengal and moved toward the coast, bringing torrential rain and high-speed winds. This weather system marks a significant revival of the monsoon season, which had seen a brief lull in central and eastern parts of the country. Authorities have advised fishermen to stay away from the coast as sea conditions remain very rough along the eastern seaboard.

Six districts in Telangana are also under a heavy rainfall watch as the system moves inland. The IMD expects the depression to travel across Odisha and Chhattisgarh, potentially causing flooding in low-lying areas of central India. Specific warnings for extremely heavy rain have been issued for the coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jagatsinghpur in Odisha. Local administrations have activated disaster response teams to manage potential waterlogging and infrastructure damage. The revival of the monsoon is expected to bridge the rainfall deficit in several agricultural belts.

State governments in the affected regions have initiated emergency protocols to ensure public safety during the 24-hour peak period. In West Bengal, the irrigation department is monitoring embankment stability in the Sundarbans and coastal South 24 Parganas. While the heavy rains provide a necessary boost to the kharif crop cycle, excessive precipitation poses a risk of crop damage in stagnant fields. Residents in vulnerable zones are being shifted to storm shelters as a precautionary measure. The IMD will continue to track the system's trajectory toward Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra over the next 48 hours.