Heavy rain forces evacuations in Odisha as deep depression hits nearby Andhra Pradesh

Heavy rain battered Odisha on Thursday, prompting officials to move thousands of residents from vulnerable low‑lying and landslide‑prone zones. The downpour triggered landslides, water‑logging, uprooted trees and damaged several houses, while flood‑ridden roads cut communication in multiple areas. The India Meteorological Department warned that squally weather would continue along the coast, with wind gusts reaching up to 70 kmph, and told fishermen to stay ashore until Friday morning. Strong winds and high tides were reported in Puri. The weather system was a deep depression that crossed the Bay of Bengal and made landfall in Andhra Pradesh near Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam, bringing widespread rain for three consecutive days. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered the use of the rain to refill all available water reservoirs, noting that the precipitation eases a long‑standing rainfall deficit in his state. In Odisha, two senior ministers were dispatched to the worst‑hit districts: Rabi Narayan Naik, Panchayati Raj minister, to Koraput and Gokulananda Mallik, Fisheries minister, to Gajapati, to supervise relief efforts. Reports linked to the event mentioned that about 3,500 people had already been evacuated as the storm progressed.