Rourkela reels under torrential rain; waterlogging disrupts daily life

A spell of intense rainfall on Wednesday night brought Rourkela city to a standstill, leaving streets waterlogged and homes inundated. 

The sudden downpour caused severe waterlogging in several low-lying areas, turning roads into temporary rivers and disrupting normal life.

In areas like Old Taxi Stand, floodwater rose to alarming levels, submerging two-wheelers like bikes and scooters parked along the streets. 

Residents woke up to find rainwater entering their houses, reaching knee-deep levels in some places, damaging furniture and household items. Many struggled to drain the water out of their homes using buckets and pumps.

The steel city had witnessed a similar situation a few days ago near Rourkela railway station, where heavy rains led to severe waterlogging. The situation has once again raised questions about the city's drainage system and urban preparedness during the monsoon.

Residents expressed frustration over repeated flooding and lack of timely intervention by civic authorities. Though no casualties have been reported, the damage to property and daily routines has caused significant inconvenience. 

Locals are now demanding immediate desilting of drains and improved flood management from the administration to prevent further mishaps this rainy season.