Bhubaneswar: Even as the people of Bhubaneswar heaved a sigh of relief due to pre-monsoon rain on Thursday, the downpour threw up the problem of waterlogging at several places.
The rainfall exposed the poor drainage system of rainwater at Sishu Bhavan square and the service road in front of the Iskcon temple in the capital city of Odisha. The city recorded 59.8 mm rainfall by 11.30 am and 90.4 mm by 2.30 pm,
Following the downpour, the busy road going through Sishu Bhavan square was submerged under knee-deep water seriously affecting the movement of vehicular traffic. The rainwater also entered the houses of nearby Forest Park area.
Though the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had claimed to have repaired and strengthened the drainage network in vulnerable areas, the woes of people in Sishu Bhavan continued to face the waterlogging. They expressed apprehension about the condition after the monsoon sets in and perennial rain starts.
Similar condition was witnessed on the road in front of the Iskcon temple which has been the major waterlogging point in the city posing a challenge to the BMC authorities. The traffic on the road almost came to a standstill as the entire stretch was submerged under the rainwater.
Though the BMC takes up renovation and repair work of the drainage system and claims solution to inundation every year after the monsoon, the problem appears to persist this year also. The locals have blamed the municipal authorities for not finding a permanent solution to the problem.
Meanwhile, the Met office has forecast that widespread rain/thundershower with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall and lightning activity are very likely in Odisha during next 4 to 5 days.
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