SAMBALPUR: TORRENTIAL rain resulted in a deluge-like situation in Sambalpur city with low-lying areas being inundated on Thursday. The heavy downpour started on Wednesday night and continued till Thursday morning. The city received 270 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours between 8 am on Wednesday and 8 am on Thursday. Normal rainfall of the district in August is 442.4 mm.
People residing in low-lying areas of the city such as Bahalpada, Nuapada, Pandit Laxmi Narayan Lane, Sonapali, Motijharan, Kamlapada, Bargachpada, Housing Board Colony, Deulbandh, Manikmuda, Maa Shakti Nagar, Varun Enclave and Remed area experienced flood-like situation due to heavy rainfall.
Rain water entered houses in low-lying areas and people were seen draining out water from their houses with the help of buckets.
Communication on several roads, including Industrial Estate-Danipali, Thakurpada-Gopalmal, Thakurpada-Sambalpur Railway Station and GM University Square-Sakhipada was disrupted for a few hours with water flowing on the road.
The inundation saw the Primary School at Housing Board Colony, Gurunanak Public School and St Joseph Convent School being closed for the day.
District Emergency Officer, Sambalpur, Sanjib Pujari said the district administration has opened three flood shelters for the affected people at VSS Upper Primary School near VSS Stadium, Sindhi Dharamshala and Mudipara Upper Primary School. They were provided dry food.
However, majority of the people went back to their houses after water level receded in their localities.
Collector Samarth Verma said heavy rainfall coupled with encroachment on the drains caused artificial flooding.
Workers of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation have been engaged in releasing water from the residential areas, he said. The sluice gates at Balibandha and Binakhandi have been opened to release the city’s water into river Mahanadi, he said. Steps will also be taken to remove the encroachments, which are obstructing the natural flow of water, Verma said.