TV
Relentless rainfall over the past 48 hours has thrown life out of gear in Sundargarh town, where low-lying areas remain submerged in waist-deep water. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirming the formation of a depression over the Bay of Bengal, fresh spells of intense rain loom large, further compounding the district’s flood woes.
Sources reported that the downpour, which began two days ago, has led to severe waterlogging across Sundargarh town.
Streets in Rani Baghicha are submerged, homes inundated, and daily life has come to a grinding halt. Locals are grappling with stagnant water inside their homes, damaged belongings, and the inability to move out even for essentials.
In Mahadev Pada and several adjoining rural pockets, fields, drains, and roads are underwater, raising fears of health hazards and crop damage.
“The rain has yet to stop, and water is rushing into our homes. Our family has been living on the second floor for the last two days, as the ground floor is completely inundated,” said a senior citizen.
Despite efforts by the municipal administration, drainage operations have made limited headway due to the sheer volume of rainfall. Reports also added that pumping systems are under strain, and with more rain forecast, locals fear the situation could deteriorate further.
“The pumps are only installed around a few key areas, and even then, they run for a few hours before stopping. As a result, all the water that was drained returns owing to persistent rains,” added another local.
Depression Over Bay Escalates Threat
The worsening local conditions come as a larger weather system unfolds across eastern India. According to IMD, the low-pressure area over the Northwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on Friday morning and crossed over coastal West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh between 7:30 and 8:30 am.
In response, IMD has issued a Red Alert for Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall that could lead to flash floods, landslides, and serious disruption.
Sundargarh is among the 10 districts placed under an Orange Warning, indicating the likelihood of further heavy to very heavy rain.
The other districts under Orange Alert are Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur. Authorities have been instructed to stay on high alert, especially in areas already affected by waterlogging or with weak drainage infrastructure.
