Schools, Anganwadis Closed in Odisha's Malkangiri, Ganjam Districts Amid IMD Red Alert for Heavy Rainfall

Following a forecast of high to extremely heavy rainfall in the area due to a severe depression over the Bay of Bengal that swept over the coast of Odisha, authorities in the districts of Malkangiri and Ganjam ordered the closure of all schools and Anganwadi facilities for today, September 10. The closure of schools and anganwadis was announced via the official “X” handle of the Collector and DM of Malkangiri, claiming that “All schools and Anganwadi Centres will be closed tomorrow in Malkangiri District due to heavy rains and a red warning by IMD.”

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Malkangiri and Ganjam districts, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall today, according to Hindustan Times. IMD officials noted that Malkangiri is already experiencing severe flooding due to continuous rainfall over the past two days.

The weather department forecasts rainfall ranging from 7 to 20 cm in these districts, with some areas likely to receive more than 20 cm. Additionally, heavy rainfall alerts have been issued for Koraput, Nawarangpur, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khurda, Puri, Bolangir, and Boudh.

Over the last three days, the Malkangiri district has seen persistent torrential rainfall, resulting in significant waterlogging. Several highways have been inundated, causing significant disruptions to communications and daily life in the region.

In the upcoming days, the meteorological service has predicted isolated, extremely severe rainfall in a number of locations. Odisha is anticipated to get heavy rainfall on September 10. Meghalaya may have similar circumstances on September 12 and 13, while Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are expected to receive severe rainfall from September 11 to 13. Odisha will also see heavy rainfall on tomorrow, September 11.