Normal life was hit in several parts of the State as heavy rains continued to lash several districts on Wednesday. In the State capital Bhubaneswar, it poured from late Tuesday night and continued throughout the day on Wednesday.
Residents and commuters had a miserable time in the capital city as rainwater waterlogged parts of Jayadev Vihar, Acharya Vihar and Behera Sahi and Nayapalli and left the National Highway passing right in front of the ISKCON temple inundated.
Traffic movement was badly affected at several important locations in the city including Master Canteen Square, Vani Vihar as well as Old Town area.
Similarly, traffic snarls were caused in Cuttack city as stagnant rainwater prevented vehicles from moving at link Road, Badambadi Bus-Stand, Khatbin Sahi, Haripur and Kazi Bazar. Several low-lying areas like Odia Bazaar and Hazari lane were waterlogged.
Much to the dismay of the tourists, the Sun Temple at Konark in Puri district remained inaccessible for them for the second consecutive day as rainwater entered into the temple’s north and south entrances. To make matters worse, one of the two pumps used to gush out the water was defunct.
Similarly in Puri town, heavy rains affected the construction work of the chariots for the upcoming Rath Yatra.
Meanwhile, the IMD Regional Office here has predicted more rains in the State in the next 48 hours being triggered by a cyclonic circulation over northwest Bay of Bengal and south Bangladesh, which, it said, has intensified into a low pressure area.
In the rural areas, farmers were, however, happy as the much-delayed rains occurred to facilitate agricultural operations.