CUTTACK: Torrential rain, which lashed the city on Monday, led to severe water-logging at several places. Over 50 places in low-lying areas have been affected by water-logging.The worst-hit areas are Roxy Lane, Badambadi, Pithapur, Rajabagicha, Jhanjir Mangala, Patapola, Rausa Patana, Friends Colony, Ganga Mandir, Sutahat, Dagbar Sahi, Mahidas Bazaar, Mehandipur, Bihariag, Balu Bazaar, Kazi Bazaar, Kesharpur, Gomandia, Samanta Sahi, Tulasipur, Sidhesawrsahi, Tanlasahi, Kanika Chowk, Rover Street, Khatbin Sahi, Jobra, Mahanadi Vihar, Nuabazaar, Khannagar and some parts of Chauliaganj and Madhupatana.
Traffic snarls were reported from several places where roads and lanes were inundated. Overflowing drain water entered the houses in the low-lying areas like Sutahat Tanti Sahi, Kazi Bazaar, Nua Raousapatana and Kesharpur making life miserable for the residents who blamed inefficiency of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) in desilting and cleaning of clogged drains.
“Since morning, I have been draining out rain water from my house. Though water has receded, filthy and unhygienic condition still prevails in the area,” said M Annapurna, a resident of Sutahat. “While the drainage system has a capacity to pump out water of maximum 50 mm rainfall, the city received only 28.8 mm rain during the last 24 hours,” said Sidharth Sarangi, a resident of Mahanadi Vihar.
Out of total 238 pump sets installed in low-lying areas, only 157 are functioning to drain out water, said CMC Commissioner Bikash Ranjan Mohapatra. Due to water-logging on the premises, educational institutions including Kamalakanta Bidyapitha at Sikharpur, Railway Settlement High School at Station Bazaar, Ranihat High School and Government Girls’ High School at Kazihat remained closed.