BMC launches ‘Rapid Action Teams’ to tackle monsoon flooding in Bhubaneswar amid rising public anger

Amid growing public frustration over repeated urban flooding, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday formally launched Rapid Action Teams (RATs) to provide a swift response to waterlogging and drainage failures during the monsoon season.

The initiative, inaugurated by Mayor Sulochana Das, aims to strengthen real-time ground intervention in vulnerable areas by deploying mobile teams equipped with pumping machinery and drainage tools, as per a BMC post on X (formerly Twitter).

The RATs have been structured across three municipal zones, with each team comprising four members trained and resourced to address localised flooding within minutes of receiving complaints.

Triggered by Public Outcry in Badagada

The formation of the Rapid Action Teams follows intense public backlash in areas like Badagada, where knee-deep floodwater entered homes during heavy rains earlier this month. 

The situation escalated on July 4, when residents gheraoed BMC Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil during his field visit, accusing civic authorities of neglect and unpreparedness.

Despite the deployment of pump sets, the drainage failure led to water stagnation inside residential colonies. In a desperate move, officials were forced to cut through roads to facilitate water outflow.

Reports had then stated that several families had to evacuate their homes and take shelter in nearby hotels.

RATs to Provide Round-the-Clock Emergency Response

According to BMC officials, the new teams will be equipped with essential tools, mobile vans, and technical staff to ensure immediate action whenever localised flooding occurs.

The teams will receive real-time inputs from ward officials and citizens, and will function as first responders to mitigate the impact of clogged drains and water accumulation.

The initiative is seen as a corrective step after the municipal body faced strong criticism over its failure to prevent repeated flooding in low-lying areas despite prior warnings.