Kendrapada: A portion of the newly built NH-53 at Hazari Chhack under Marshaghai police station in Kendrapada district caved in on Thursday night due to three days of rain. “The incident has exposed the substandard quality of highway construction works executed by NHAI,” said Hemant Jena, a retired school teacher of Hazari Chhack. The road repair is going on on a war footing, said Pradeep Kumar Lal, regional officer, Odisha Region, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Bhubaneswar. “Due to the incessant rain, a portion of the highway collapsed due to stagnation of water,” he said.Waterlogging was reported from Kendrapada town, Pattamundai, Rajnagar, Mahakalapada, Marsaghai and other areas. Many villages also remained waterlogged as heavy rain continued in the areas. The rainwater accumulated on the roads, creating problems for people in both districts. Pedestrians faced problems in crossing the roads due to knee-deep water after the recent spell of rain.Around 28 fishing boats from Andhra Pradesh have taken shelter in the fishing harbour of Paradip. Rainwater entered the official residence of the superintendent of police, Kendrapara. Huts in the slums of Paradip had knee-deep water, forcing residents to take shelter in nearby buildings, said Bhikari Mandal, a slum dweller of Sandhakuda in Paradip town.Even the rehabilitation colony at Bagapatia under Rajnagar block is waterlogged, creating problems for the 4,000 inhabitants. Six years back, the administration promised to build concrete roads in the rehabilitation colony but it is yet to be done, said Mahadev Behera of Bagapatia.Chairperson of Kendrapada municipality Sarita Sahoo said, “We are clearing drains to ensure that there is no waterlogging. There are some potholes but the number is relatively less. We are pumping out rainwater from residential areas.”Farmlands in Dahibara, Gadaharisapur, Ambiki, Sankha, Kalikuda, Ramatara, Utarapada, Hatiapala, Kunjakothi, Siali and other seaside villages under Ersama block in Jagatsinghpur district were inundated. Sea water also flowed towards Batighar, Kajalapatia, Pentha, Kansarabadadandua, Satabhaya, Kanhupur, Talachua, Rangani and other villages in Kendrapada district. Many fishermen have not gone out fishing, said Narayan Haldar, president of Odisha Masyajibi Forum.
