Heavy Rains Trigger Water Logging in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar; Monsoon Preparedness Exposed

Incessant rains threw normal life out of gear in many parts of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. The continuous downpour resulted in water logging at several low-lying areas in the two mega cities of Odisha.

According to the weather bureau, Bhubaneswar recorded 43.2 mm rain by 5.30 pm.

The rains are believed to be a precursor to a low pressure area which is likely to be formed over northwest Bay of Bengal and the neighbourhood by July 23.

Meanwhile, several low-lying areas in the Millenium City of Cuttack went under water following heavy downpour. Water logging was reported in Tinikonia Bagicha, Sutahat, Darjisahi, Patapol, Meriabazar, Gamandia, Pithapur, Badambadi and Bajrakbati Road. Moreover, water from drains entered many houses in the city.

Similarly in Bhubaneswar, the rainwater flowed over roads near ISKCON, Nayapalli and Acharya Vihar areas affecting vehicular movement in the Smart City. Several vehicles parked in these areas were submerged in the flash flood that followed the downpour.

Locals in these localities attributed poor drainage system and lack of preparedness to the water logging problem.

“It has been a regular affair for us. Even a short-spell of rain can lead to water-logging in our area,” said a resident of Pithapur.
“Rain/Thundershower with one or two spells of intense (2-3 cm/Hour) rainfall very likely to continue for another 30 to 45 minutes over #Bhubaneswar & #Cuttack city area. Due to this intense spell of rain possibility of temporary water logging in low-lying areas of both the cities,” the Bhubaneswar MeT Office has tweeted.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy rainfall in nine districts of Odisha in the next 24 hours.
The rain alert has been sounded for Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Gajapati, Ganjam and Kandhamal districts.

As per IMD, a low-pressure area is likely to form over northwest Bay of Bengal and the neighbourhood around July 23, 2021.