Odisha receives heavy monsoon rains as low‑pressure system intensifies

The India Meteorological Department reported that a low‑pressure area formed over the north‑west Bay of Bengal and the adjoining West Bengal coast, forecast to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall across Odisha from July 3 to July 7. The agency issued a red alert for districts such as Koraput and Malkangiri and orange or yellow warnings for others, advising fishermen to avoid the sea and warning of wind speeds of 40–60 km/h.

In the following days the system produced a 130 mm rain surplus, with many districts recording excess rainfall of 60 % or more. The highest 24‑hour total was 317 mm in Ambabhona (Bargarh). The monsoon revival cut the state's June rainfall deficit from 47 % to 26 % for the June‑July 1 period and raised inflows at the Hirakud Dam to 7,084 cusec, while dam gates remained closed.