Vehicles wade through a waterlogged NH-5 in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, Aug. 18: Several rivers in Odisha are in spate following spells of heavy rainfall triggered by a low pressure formed over Bay of Bengal.

Water level in the Mahanadi river and its tributaries —Brahmani and Vanshadhara — was rising. This evening, the Mahanadi was flowing above the warning level of 25.41 metres at Naraj.

Though the water level of the Vanshadhara showed a rising trend, it was flowing at 81.40 metres, below the warning level of 83 meters. This evening, the water level of the Baitarani stood at 17.09 metres at Akhuapada against its danger mark of 17.83 metres.

Special relief commissioner Pradipta Mohapatra, however, ruled out the possibility of flood in the Mahanadi system and in other rivers. “There is no chance of flood in the Mahanadi system as the rainfall has stopped in the upper catchment areas. The water level in Hirakud reservoir stands at 615ft against its full capacity of 630ft. Water is being released into the Mahanadi only through three sluice gates,” he said.

However, the people in coastal Odisha are in panic as the Regional Meteorological Centre here has forecast more showers in the next 24 hours along with a strong and gusty surface wind of speed up to 45 to 50km per hour along Odisha coast. Fishermen were asked not to venture into the sea in the next 24 hours.

Incessant and heavy rainfall has caused waterlogging and disrupted road connection in Kandhamal, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh districts. “Road communication will be restored as soon as water recedes,” said Mohapatra.

Kandhamal recorded highest amount of rainfall, measured at 225mm, in the last 24 hours resulting in flash flood at various places of the district. Bhubaneswar received a rainfall of 95.4mm in the past 24 hours while Cuttack recorded 71mm rainfall.

Normal life has been hit because of waterlogging at various places of Odisha, including the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Rainwater has inundated low-lying areas of Mancheswar, Jharapada and Lingipur of Bhubaneswar.

Residents of several low-lying areas in river-locked Cuttack city, such as Nadikula Sahi, Upar Sahi and Tala Sahi at Sikharpur and Chauliaganj and Siddheswar Sahi, remained confined to their home because of waterlogging.

Siddheshwar Sahi residents also faced problems because of waterlogging following heavy rainfall of last night. Wastewater had also entered into a dispensary there.

Accumulation of rainwater on Kala Bikash Kendra Road near Buxi Bazaar also created problems for local residents and commuters.

However, the only respite for the residents was that there was quick disposal of the accumulated water at various low-lying areas, including Kathagada Sahi, Pithapur, Mehendipir and Gangamandir.

A Cuttack Municipal Corporation official, however, said: “Though the city had witnessed a heavy spell of rain last night, there are no reports of waterlogging today.”