Bhubaneswar, July 28 -- Schools and anganwadi centres were ordered to remain shut in Odisha's Jajpur, Bhadrak and Keonjhar districts on Wednesday as incessant rain raised fears of flooding, while Balasore town remained inundated after receiving 246.6mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, officials said.

Authorities warned that the flood situation was turning critical as water levels rose sharply in several major rivers, including the Jalaka, Salandi and Baitarani, following days of heavy rainfall across northern Odisha.

The district administrations of the three districts ordered the closure of all government, government-aided and private schools, along with anganwadi centres on Wednesday as a precaution against the deteriorating weather a...