Bhawanipatna/Puri/Rayagada: In view of the India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s forecast of heavy rainfall on September 23, 2026, and considering the safety and security of students, administrations in Kalahandi, Koraput, Puri and Rayagada districts have ordered the closure of schools and Anganwadi centres on Wednesday.

The order applies to all government, government-aided and private educational institutions. Elementary, secondary and higher secondary schools, Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAVs), Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and all Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) will remain closed on September 23.

All heads of institutions have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the order.

However, teachers and other staff may attend their regular duties and complete pending school-related work.

Meanwhile, the Rayagada district administration has stepped up preparedness measures as the district remains under a yellow weather warning and intermittent rain continues in several areas.

Rayagada Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni has directed officials to keep all government and private schools in the district closed in view of the anticipated rainfall.

Three permanent multipurpose cyclone shelters have been kept ready in Rayagada, Gunupur and Bissamcuttack, while 84 temporary shelters have also been identified and kept prepared for any emergency.

The administration has identified 11 locations vulnerable to landslides in the district. Areas including Kashipur, Gudari, Ganapur and Mukundapur Ghat have been identified as particularly vulnerable. Block authorities, the Works Department and the Rural Development Department have been directed to remain alert and take necessary precautionary measures.

The Fire Services Department and the Electricity Department have also been asked to remain prepared to deal with incidents such as trees falling and blocking roads or damage to electricity poles due to heavy rain. Officials have been directed to ensure that roads are cleared at the earliest and power supply is restored promptly in affected areas.

The administration is keeping a close watch on water levels in the Vansadhara and Nagavali rivers. If rainfall increases and river levels rise further, arrangements have been made to evacuate people living in low-lying and riverside areas to multipurpose shelters, the Collector said.

During an emergency review meeting, the Collector directed officials to shift women in advanced stages of pregnancy to nearby Maa Gruhas or hospitals to ensure their safety.

With river water levels rising and Ganesh idol immersion activities underway, police have also been instructed to restrict entry into rivers and ensure adequate safety measures during immersion ceremonies.

Latest weather bulletin forecast

In its latest weather bulletin on Tuesday, the IMD said the Depression over the westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal had intensified into a Deep Depression.

According to the IMD, the system was located about 140 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam, 150 km south-southeast of Gopalpur, 210 km south-southwest of Puri and 220 km east of Visakhapatnam.

The IMD has issued a red warning for several Odisha districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places, with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places, in Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and Ganjam.