Heavy rain cripples life across Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Normal life was affected at various places in Odisha on Sunday due to the incessant rains lashing the state for the past one day, which inundated several low-lying areas and caused flash floods in some rivers.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has asked all district collectors to closely monitor the situation and remain prepared to meet waterlogging, localised flood in urban areas and landslides in hilly areas.
A low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal is likely to concentrate into a depression in the next 12 hours, triggering heavy rain in the state while the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) issued a red warning for heavy rain in six coastal districts in the next two days.
Pilgrim town Puri recorded the highest rainfall of 145 mm on Sunday inundating large areas of the city while tourists at the Sun Temple in Konark wade through knee-deep water as premises of the heritage site got waterlogged in the heavy rain.
Jalaka river in Balasore district is flowing above the danger mark at Mathani due to heavy rain in upper catchment areas. The river was flowing at 5.7 metre against the danger mark of 5.5 metre while water levels are continuing to rise, sources said.
Capital Bhubaneswar woke up to overcast sky and as the day progressed rain started pouring incessantly developing into massive downpour by noon. The intensive rain continued throughout the day with only brief let-ups as the city recorded 119.1 mm rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Sunday. Torrential rain has left roads inundated, traffic stalled, and commuters stranded causing severe inconvenience to public life.
Major stretches of roads and localities like Jharpada, Nayapalli, Sashtri Nagar, Jaydev Vihar, Bomikhal, were literal nightmares, with rainwater entering, shops, houses, and apartments. Blocked stormwater and sewerage lines proved to be the major causes for the flooding, which was evident from overflowing manholes. Many city residents have taken to social media platforms and posted photographs of inundated roads and houses.
IMD has warned that extremely heavy rain may lead to localized flooding, inundation and waterlogging in low lying areas and closure of underpasses in urban areas in several areas. “It is advisable for people to not travel and stay indoors as the intensity of rains will be heavy to very heavy in many districts including Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapda, Dhenkanal and Nayagarh. Extreme rains are expected at isolated places in few districts. We have alerted all the local authorities to take necessary measures to tackle flooding, and avoid loss of life,” said H R Biswas, director IMD Regional Centre, Bhubaneswar.
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