Cuttack: Civic officials have been on toes after intermittent rain lashed the city over the past 24 hours. From ensuring de-watering pumps were ready to function in low-lying areas to clearing blocked surface water channels, civic officials spent hours on the field trying to keep the city free from inundation.

Municipal commissioner Bikash Ranjan Mohapatra said de-watering pumps were in operation in all low-lying areas. The civic body received two calls regarding waterlogging since Monday night. One came from Police Wireless and Signals Division office at Tulasipur and the other from Roxy Lane. Both were cleared within hours.

"Cuttack received 56mm rainfall, but there has been no inundation because of overflowing drains. All four sluice gates at Khannagar have been opened to release water from the main drain into the Kathajodi river," he said.

Waterlogging is a common feature here because of the city's low topography. A civic official said apart from 12 permanent pumping stations at chronic waterlogging spots, the civic body had placed 300 de-watering pumps across the city.

"On Tuesday morning, the civic body issued fuel for 190 pumps to keep them ready," Cuttack emergency officer Prabodh Rout said. The rest have been kept ready for any emergency.

Mohapatra said 10 high-power pumps were in operation at Matrubhavan to pump out water from the main drain into the Taladanda Canal. Six others at Khannagar would pump out water into the Kathajodi river when the sluice gates have to be closed.

"We can only make sure that all pumps are functioning as we have nothing else to rely on," he added.

The civic body had requisitioned eight pumps with long-range pipes for areas vulnerable to flooding.

Classes in schools and colleges were suspended on Tuesday on account of the rain.