Puri: Thousands of residents of waterlogged Sujata Nagar in Ward number 1 under Puri municipality finally heaved a sigh of relief after a team led by district authorities cut the National Highway to drain out water from the area late last night.
According to sources, a 5-feet wide cut was made on the national highway in the presence of highway authorities, district magistrate and the police to drain out the water.
The area has remained waterlogged since Rath Yatra following heavy rains in July. Besides Sujata nagar, Mukul Mishra nagar and Gopinath Nagar are also expected to get relief after the work.
As per reports, at least 16 families in these localities were forced to leave their houses following the waterlogging.
Earlier, the district administration had installed motor pumps to pump out water from the area but it was of little help.
While the concerned authorities had claimed to have distributed polythene sheets and medicines, residents of the affected areas alleged that they were not provided with essentials such as food.