Cars ply on a waterlogged street near Bomikhal in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 1: Weakening of a low pressure system formed over south Odisha has caused incessant rain in the city resulting in waterlogging and artificial floods in many areas, especially along the Cuttack-Puri Road or NH-203.

The data available with the local office of the Indian Meteorological Department revealed that Bhubaneswar has received 121.5mm rain today causing waterlogging at Samantarapur, Old Town, Laxmisagar, Bomikhal, Rasulgarh and GGP Colony.

“Incessant rain has caused artificial flood at Mahavir Bazar near Samantarapur. As the drains are incomplete and choked by the dumping of garbage and waste, water has entered houses in the low-lying areas,” said Sanjay Nayak, a local resident.

Councillor of ward No. 59 Biranchi Narayan Mahasupakar admitted that the drainage problem had caused waterlogging and artificial flooding.

“We have spoken to the NH-203 authorities to rectify the problem. They will start work from tomorrow,” he said.

Not only Samantarapur, but many places along the NH-203 from Samantarapur to Rasulgarh are waterlogged. Laxmisagar and Bomikhal are also affected with the drains along the NH-203 either lying defunct or encroached upon by shops.

Local Met centre director Sarat Chandra Sahoo said: “The low pressure, which lay centred near Kalingapatnam on the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border, has weakened and moved towards Madhya Pradesh. It is likely to move westwards up to Gujarat and this has triggered rain in and around Delhi. However, another low-pressure system is brewing near the coast.”

The present low-pressure was formed on August 29 and stayed put over south Odisha. The other low-pressure system is likely to be formed by September 3-4 and may cause rain till September 7. Met sources said till date, eight low-pressures have formed this season along the Odisha coast that causes rain.

“The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is keeping its rescue team on alert although the situation is not very alarming. We are ready with pump sets and excavators to help the people in low-lying areas,” said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.