IMD warns of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh as the weather system approaches the coast; schools shut in several Odisha districts

A deep depression over the westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal is moving towards the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast and is expected to cross the coastline around the night of September 23 or during the early hours of September 24.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several areas as the system moves inland. Odisha is expected to bear a significant portion of the impact, while coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh are also likely to experience heavy rainfall.

The weather system has already triggered precautionary measures across several Odisha districts, including the closure of educational institutions, restrictions on movement along vulnerable routes and suspension of ferry services.

Deep depression moving towards coast

According to the latest IMD coastal bulletin, the system was positioned over the westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and was moving west-northwestwards. The system was expected to cross the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, close to Kalingapatnam, as a deep depression.

The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall over parts of the affected coastal belt, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely at several locations.

The system is expected to weaken progressively after moving inland, although rainfall could continue over parts of southern and central India as the circulation travels further inland.

Odisha faces intense rainfall threat

Odisha is among the states facing the strongest rainfall threat from the system.

The weather department has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in parts of the state, particularly across southern and coastal districts. The combination of intense rainfall and strong winds could disrupt road connectivity, local transport and normal economic activity.

Reports of fallen trees and road blockages have already emerged from parts of southern Odisha as rainfall intensified.

District administrations have consequently stepped up preparedness and are maintaining close coordination with disaster-response agencies.

Schools closed in several districts

Authorities in several Odisha districts have ordered educational institutions to remain closed until September 24 as a precautionary measure.

Districts including Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput and Khurda have announced closures amid the adverse-weather warning.

The decision is aimed at reducing the movement of students and staff during periods of intense rainfall and potentially hazardous road conditions.

Several administrations have also directed government employees to report for duty and cancelled leave for personnel involved in emergency preparedness and response.

Road and ferry movement affected

The adverse weather has also affected transportation in parts of Odisha.

Authorities have restricted vehicular movement on certain vulnerable stretches, including Kalinga Ghat, which connects Ganjam and Kandhamal.

Ferry services between Satapada and Jahnikuda across Chilika Lake have also been suspended as a precaution. According to the reported administrative order, the suspension is expected to continue until September 25.

Such restrictions are intended to reduce risks from poor visibility, strong winds, waterlogging, landslides and hazardous road conditions.

Strong winds and rough seas

The deep depression is also generating hazardous marine conditions.

The IMD has warned of squally winds over parts of the Bay of Bengal, with stronger gusts expected near the system and along the north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts.

The sea is expected to remain rough to very rough, with particularly hazardous conditions along portions of the affected coastline.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha-West Bengal coastal belt.

Port authorities have also maintained cautionary signals at several ports in the region.

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh also on alert

The impact of the system is expected to extend beyond Odisha.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, while Telangana and Chhattisgarh are also expected to experience heavy rainfall in several areas.

The system's movement inland could keep rainfall activity elevated across parts of central India even after the coastal crossing.

The rainfall could provide additional water to reservoirs and agricultural areas, but intense precipitation over a short period can also increase the risk of localised flooding, waterlogging and disruption to transportation.

Rainfall likely across several other states

The broader monsoon circulation is expected to keep rainfall active across large parts of eastern, central and southern India.

Fairly widespread rainfall is likely over areas including Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha. Eastern India, including Jharkhand, West Bengal and Sikkim, could also experience widespread rainfall.

Parts of the Northeast, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, are expected to remain under the influence of rain-bearing systems.

Southern states including Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana could see scattered rainfall, while parts of Maharashtra, Konkan and Goa and Gujarat may also receive rain.

Delhi likely to remain comparatively dry

The weather situation in the national capital is expected to be considerably different from the conditions along the eastern and southern coast.

Delhi is forecast to remain mainly dry on September 23 and 24, with temperatures expected to remain in the low-to-mid 30s Celsius during the day.

The capital could see partly cloudy conditions later in the week, with a possibility of light rain or thunderstorms around the weekend.

The withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from parts of northwest India is also continuing.

Economic and infrastructure impact

Heavy rainfall events can have a direct impact on local economic activity.

Transport interruptions can affect the movement of agricultural produce, industrial goods and essential commodities, while prolonged rainfall can temporarily disrupt construction, tourism, retail activity and logistics.

Ports and coastal industries may also experience operational restrictions when wind and sea conditions deteriorate.

For agricultural regions, rainfall can be beneficial where soil moisture and reservoir levels require replenishment. However, excessively concentrated rainfall can damage standing crops and increase the risk of waterlogging and soil erosion.

The eventual economic impact will therefore depend on the intensity, duration and geographical spread of rainfall after the system crosses the coast.

Authorities focus on preparedness

With the system approaching the coastline, disaster-management agencies and district administrations are focusing on preparedness, evacuation support where required, road clearance and restoration of essential services.

The closure of schools and restrictions on vulnerable routes are among the precautionary steps being taken to minimise exposure to hazardous conditions.

Residents in affected districts have been advised to follow official weather and district-administration advisories, particularly during periods of heavy rain and strong winds.

What to watch next

The immediate focus remains on the system's exact landfall location, rainfall intensity and its movement after crossing the coast.

Weather conditions could change rapidly around the time of landfall, making official IMD updates important for coastal communities, fishermen, transport operators and local administrations.

The possibility of flooding, fallen trees, power disruptions and road blockages will remain important operational risks in areas receiving intense rainfall.

As the system moves inland, its weakening trend and the distribution of rainfall across central and southern India will determine the extent of the wider impact.

Market Outlook

The deep depression is primarily a weather and disaster-management event, but prolonged heavy rainfall can have implications for agriculture, logistics, construction, power demand and regional economic activity.

In the near term, transport disruptions and excessive rainfall could affect supply chains in vulnerable districts, while agricultural regions could see mixed outcomes depending on crop stage and rainfall intensity. Infrastructure and commodity-linked companies with significant exposure to affected regions may also see temporary operational effects.

The broader market impact is likely to depend on the duration and geographical spread of the rainfall rather than the coastal crossing alone. Investors will therefore be watching reservoir levels, agricultural conditions, logistics activity and any disruption to industrial operations as the system moves inland.