An overflowing Baitarani had breached its embankment near Patapur village in Jajpur's Dasarathapur block a month ago. Before the authorities could repair the breach, incessant rain led the river to overflow its banks once again. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Aug. 5: Power failure in several areas of the city has compounded the miseries of people in the wake of inundation due to heavy rainfall.

Heavy downpour continued for the third day today and the administration is sparing no efforts to meet the challenge posed by the flooding rainwater in the city.

The electricity supply is yet to be restored in several areas. Power failure has affected functioning of offices and business establishments at Lakshmi Talkies, Golebazar, Khetrajpur and Modipara in the city.

“The power went off when it was raining heavily last evening. We did not even get the opportunity to purchase candles. The inverter has stopped functioning. We had to spend the night in darkness,” said Nandpara resident Gayatri Bohidar.

Manoj Behera, who runs an Internet cafe here, said: “Because of power failure, people went back disappointed from my café today.”

The load-shedding has affected the water supply as well. Water could not be supplied to many areas of the city. “We did not get water supply today,” said Housing Board Colony resident Madhumita Sahu.

Executive engineer of the Western Electricity Supply Company Sambit Nanda said: “Because of the heavy rainfall, water entered the gird at Cheruapara of the city, and some areas of the city had to experience power failure.”

Today water entered houses at Putibandh, Kuluthkani, Charbhati and Sindupankh. The district administration has opened two more relief centres. The administration had opened 22 relief centres for nearly 5,000 affected people. However, the number of relief centres has been increased to 27 now after the new areas got affected due to rain on Monday.

District collector Balwant Singh said: “Some areas got inundated after the heavy rainfall last night. The number of relief centres has been increased.”