IMD warns of landslides, flash floods as Odisha faces red alert

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for six Odisha districts — Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Angul — forecasting extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours.

Thunderstorms and lightning have also been forecast, with the IMD warning that the rain could trigger landslides in hilly areas and flash floods in low-lying regions.

The alert follows the intensification of a Low Pressure Area over the West Bengal coast into a Well-marked Pressure Area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coasts, as of 5:30 am IST on Sunday.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the deep sea or adjoining coastal areas for the next four days because of rough sea conditions.

Central Maharashtra has also been placed under a red alert as part of the broader spell of heavy rainfall across several states this week.

(Image: McKay Savage (CC BY 2.0))