Continuous Downpour Lashes Rayagada; Vansadhara Nears Warning Mark as Deep Depression Weakens, Boulder fall on rail track

Dr. Badal Tah,Odishabarta

Rayagada, September 25: Incessant rainfall triggered by a deep depression over south interior Odisha and adjoining Chhattisgarh has lashed Rayagada district over the past 24 hours, swelling major river systems and pushing water levels close to danger thresholds in several pockets. According to a bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) based on 05:30 hrs IST observations on Friday, the deep depression moved north-northwestwards at 15 km/h, weakening into a depression centered near Nuapada (Latitude 20.5°N, Longitude 82.5°E). The weather system is expected to maintain its depression intensity for the next 12 hours before weakening into a well-marked low-pressure area over subsequent hours. It remains under continuous surveillance via Doppler Weather Radars at Sambalpur and Raipur.

The District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC), Rayagada, reported an average rainfall of 30.52 mm across the district for the 24 hours ending at 8:30 AM today, totaling 335.7 mm. Kashipur recorded the heaviest downpour at 87.7 mm. Rayagada block followed with 50.8 mm. Notable precipitation was also logged in Muniguda (36.8 mm), K.Singhpur (35.4 mm), Ramanaguda (28.6 mm), Kolnara (27.4 mm), and B.Cuttack (27.2 mm). Lower figures were recorded in Gudari (12.5 mm), Gunupur (12.0 mm), Chandrapur (11.0 mm), and Padmapur (6.3 mm).

Train services have been disrupted on the KR Line (Koraput–Rayagada line) again near Sikarpai Railway station due to a boulder fall on railway track caused by incessant rainfall.

Data from the Rayagada Irrigation Division indicates rising trends across major river gauge stations. With river Vansadhara hovering just 0.26 metres below its warning level at Gunupur and Jhanjavati running close to high flood levels, local field administrations and disaster response teams remain on high alert. Low-lying riparian settlements have been advised to monitor local water flow alerts as run-off from upper catchment areas continues.