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Odisha evacuates 10,000 as deep depression floods worsen

By Drooid · Sep 26, 2026, 4:08 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Odisha Government Evacuates

The Odisha state government evacuated about 10,000 residents as a deep depression caused severe flooding.
The Baitarani and Kani rivers in Jajpur district rose above danger marks, prompting flood warnings.
Red alerts were issued for Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri districts through September 25.
Tentulikhunti in Nabarangpur recorded 395 mm of rain, the highest state total.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered a zero-casualty policy and set up relief kitchens.

Summary

IMD Warns Heavy Rain

India Meteorological Department warned of heavy rain up to 204.5 mm across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
Cyclone Arnab weakened from a deep depression to a depression by Thursday evening.
Low-to-moderate flash-flood alerts covered districts in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Fishermen were told to stay ashore as rough seas and squally winds battered the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

Summary

Visakhapatnam Floods Disrupt

Two women died in Anakapalli district as deep depression caused severe flooding.
Visakhapatnam experienced 48 toppled trees that blocked roads and damaged power lines.
A tribal man carrying his child across an overflowing stream near Onukonda went viral urging a bridge.
Landslips and house collapses hit Madhurawada and Gajuwaka with no casualties reported.
Officials issued first flood warnings for Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers as inflows rose sharply.

History

Historical Context

The 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone, which struck on October 29, 1999, devastated the coastal region and killed over 10,000 people in India. The Indian Meteorological Department recorded wind gusts of 260 km/h, while Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared a state of emergency for 1.5 million displaced residents. Today's deep depression across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana echoes the 1999 disaster, as the Baitarani, Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers breach danger levels, prompting evacuations. The 1999 cyclone’s lessons spurred stronger early-warning systems and disaster-relief protocols, now guiding the zero-casualty policy and kitchen deployments nationwide.

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Odisha Government Evacuates

The Odisha state government evacuated about 10,000 residents as a deep depression caused severe flooding.
The Baitarani and Kani rivers in Jajpur district rose above danger marks, prompting flood warnings.
Red alerts were issued for Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri districts through September 25.
Tentulikhunti in Nabarangpur recorded 395 mm of rain, the highest state total.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered a zero-casualty policy and set up relief kitchens.

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