Odisha steps up preparedness as depression likely to intensify, 33 ODRAF teams deployed

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 22 -- Odisha government on Tuesday stepped up preparedness and deployed 33 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams in vulnerable districts as a depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a deep depression and trigger heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several parts of the state.

Official sources said 24 ODRAF teams have been deployed in vulnerable districts, including six in Ganjam, three in Gajapati, six in Koraput, three in Malkangiri, three in Rayagada, two in Kalahandi and one in Balangir.

Nine additional ODRAF teams have been kept in reserve at the OSAP 8th Battalion, ODRAF Unit at Chhatrapur in Ganjam district.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Warning for Ko...