KEONJHAR: Heavy overnight rains severely disrupted normal life in Keonjhar’s Joda, exposing the town’s failing drainage infrastructure on Monday.
Continuous downpour since Sunday afternoon caused widespread waterlogging, inundating roads and several residential areas. Clogged with garbage and debris, the choked drainage network of the town overflowed, forcing stormwater directly into streets and houses. The worst-hit were residents living in the town’s low-lying areas and slums.
In the slum near Joda cinema hall, rainwater entered houses and inundated lanes with knee-deep water. In Ward no. 3, stormwater gushed into homes, submerging household items including furniture and forcing residents to seek higher grounds.
Laxmipriya Rout of Haduisahi alleged there were several reports of poisonous snakes entering people’s living rooms due to the flooding. She claimed the severe waterlogging was caused by clogged drains which were not cleaned before the monsoon.
“Now, water is everywhere, both inside our homes and outside. While the waterlogging has been persisting for years, the municipality authorities have turned a blind eye to the problem,” Rout alleged.
Local residents said as Joda is located in a hilly terrain, heavy monsoon showers naturally result in massive volumes of runoff channelling down from the upper ridges into the town. They alleged that Joda municipality authorities fail to handle this influx of water every year due to lack of regular maintenance of the town’s drainage network.
Municipality officials said emergency teams have been deployed to the worst-affected areas. High-capacity motorised pumps have also been deployed to drain rainwater from the streets. Earthmovers are being used to clear garbage blocks from the choked drainage channels.
Executive officer of Joda municipality Shwetapadma Dhal attributed the severe waterlogging to sudden flash floods caused by excessive hill runoff. Municipal workers have been deployed across the town to pump out rainwater and clear debris. Steps are being taken to strengthen the town’s sanitation system, she added.
LANDSLIDE AFFECTS TRAFFIC ON NH-520
Keonjhar: A major landslide triggered by heavy rainfall blocked National Highway-520 at Barabanka junction under Ruguda police limits here on Sunday night. Vehicular movement on the route was disrupted as large boulders and tonnes of soil crashed down onto one side of the two-lane highway. To prevent accidents and manage the traffic bottleneck, local police immediately cordoned off the affected debris zone. Sources said the authorities are currently diverting all vehicles through the single remaining operational lane of the highway.