Bhubaneswar: The deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal crossed the West Bengal-Odisha coasts near Digha between 00:30 and 0130 hrs IST on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
As per latest IMD bulletin, the system moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 7 kmph during the past six hours and crossed the coast close to Digha (near latitude 21.65°N and longitude 87.50°E). At 0530 hrs IST, the centre of the deep depression was located over north coastal Odisha and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal near latitude 21.7°N and longitude 87.2°E. It was positioned about 30 km west-northwest of Digha in West Bengal, 30 km northeast of Balasore in Odisha, 50 km east-southeast of Baripada in Odisha, 160 km southeast of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, and 170 km east of Keonjhargarh in Odisha.
The deep depression is very likely to continue moving west-northwestwards across north Odisha, south Jharkhand, and north Chhattisgarh over the next 24 hours. This movement is expected to bring further widespread rainfall to these regions.
The system has already caused intense rainfall in coastal Odisha, with Balasore recording as much as 166.5 mm of rain in the past 21 hours.
Several districts have announced school closures today as a precautionary measure amid the ongoing heavy rain spell.
Authorities have urged residents to stay alert for possible waterlogging and flooding in low-lying areas.
