Sambalpur, July 16: Irate residents of Housing Board Colony here today blocked an important road in the city as rain and drain water inundated their colony following incessant and heavy downpour last night.

Water from Dhobijor Nala, a major drain of the city, gushed into many houses of the Housing Board Colony following heavy rain.

The irate residents of the colony blocked the road, which connects Laxmi Talkies Chowk of Sambalpur with the Khetrajpur railway station. Women of the locality led the protest and sat on the road from morning. The angry agitators alleged that their locality had been lying in neglect since long. They also alleged that unauthorised constructions along the Dhobijor Nala were obstructing the flow of water.

“Several times in the past we had informed the authorities about the illegal constructions along the drain. The concerned authorities assured us that they would address the problem, but no tangible step has been taken yet. Every year rainwater flows into the houses. But this year, the drain water entered into the houses because of the blockage of water by a boundary wall of a proposed shopping mall. People of this locality are suffering because of the apathy of civic authorities,” said H.K. Dash, a local resident. “Many important things in my house have been destroyed. You can see water flowing at knee level,” said Kalyani Pashayat, another local resident

“We will not lift the road blockade until the concerned authorities make arrangements to drain out the water from our houses,” said one of the protestors. Senior district officers, including additional district magistrate, sub-collector and tehsildar, reached the address the situation and make arrangements for the discharge of drain water.

“The water will be drained out. Work has already started. The administration will take appropriate action after we get details of the boundary wall,” said additional district magistrate, Madhab Chandra Bariha.