Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: Continuous rainfall in twin cities on Thursday led to waterlogging, traffic congestion and disruption of daily activities across several low-lying areas. Commuters and pedestrians were seen wading through knee-deep water in some stretches, while waterlogged roads slowed down vehicular movement and caused long traffic snarls during peak hours. Several roads remained submerged for hours, forcing motorists to take alternative routes.In Bhubaneswar, Sailashree Vihar, Nandan Vihar, Bomikhal, parts of Old Town, Soubhagya Nagar and Jagamara were severely waterlogged as rain water accumulated on roads and in residential areas. Locals expressed concern over poor drainage and recurring flooding in vulnerable areas during every spell of heavy rain. “The drains in our area have clogged and overflowed on the roads. It is filthy and absolutely unhygienic,” Prashant Mohapatra, a resident of Soubhagya Nagar, said.The situation was no better in Cuttack, where a portion of an under-construction road connecting Chahata Chowk and Madhusudan caved in. While a huge patch, at least of 100 metres, of the 2.5km-long six-lane road caved in at Bhuasuni Gada, the adjoining retaining wall also sank following heavy rain. Officials are yet to ascertain the extent of the damage and the exact cause behind the cave-in, though incessant rain is suspected to have weakened the road base.Cuttack collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde said, “The administration has taken the incident seriously and a team will be sent to conduct a detailed inquiry into the road collapse. If anyone is found guilty of negligence or poor-quality execution, strict action will be taken in accordance with the law.”“It looks like some earthquake has damaged the road in such a manner, but in reality, the damage was done because of the rain. This has exposed the poor quality of road work,” Pramod Jena, a Bidanasi resident, said.Traffic movement, on the other hand, came to a near standstill in several parts of both the cities. Office-goers and school students faced delays, while public transport services were also reported disrupted due to the adverse weather conditions. People were seen navigating through submerged stretches with caution, while many struggled to move through flooded lanes. Low-lying residential areas reported rainwater entering streets and open spaces, adding to the inconvenience.In view of the continuing rainfall, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) have placed their respective field staff on alert. Officials have been directed to closely monitor vulnerable locations, sources said.Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das said that measures are being taken to ensure swift drainage of accumulated rainwater and prevent any untoward incidents. “Engineering and sanitation teams have been deployed in sensitive pockets,” she said.In the last 24 hours, Bhubaneswar received 8mm of rainfall and Cuttack 34mm.The IMD has predicted continued rainfall activity over several parts of Odisha, prompting authorities to urge residents to remain cautious, particularly in low-lying areas.
