Rain water flowing over the roads affected traffic movement along major thoroughfares after a sudden heavy downpour lashed Bhubaneswar on Friday afternoon.
The rain, which started around 12.30 pm, continued for around half-an-hour, but it was enough to flood the roads.
According to Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, highest 57.7 mm rainfall was recorded between 8.30 am and 5 pm on Friday. Of this, over 40 mm rainfall was observed in half-an-hour’s time.
Water entered the Capital Hospital, the biggest State-run hospital of Bhubaneswar, and the hospital authorities found it difficult to drain it out. Patients and attendants had to be shifted to safer place. The situation got normal later, said Capital Hospital authorities.
Similarly, water flowed on roads near Secretariat, Housing Board, Jayadev Vihar and Sastrinagar area. However, within an hour, the water discharged into drains bringing relief to commuters.
Meanwhile, a high-level meeting under chairmanship of Special Relief Commissioner took stock of administrative preparedness for possible floods during forthcoming monsoon here on Friday.
After India Meteorological Department predicted more than normal rain this year, emergency officials of all districts were alerted. They were asked to keep the communication channels open so that exigency situation could be managed efficiently. It was informed that police personnel appointed for 10 additional Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force were undergoing training under batches. If situation arises, they would be deployed during flood.
Heat wave in Western Odisha
Meanwhile, the western region of Odisha continued to reel under intense heat wave condition. Bhawanipatna in western region for the second consecutive day remained the hottest place in the State at 45 degrees Celsius against yesterday’s 44 degrees C, while the mercury stood at 42.7 degrees C in Sonepur, the meteorological centre here said.
The maximum temperature in Sambalpur was 43.1, followed by 42.3 at Jharsuguda and Hirakud and 42 degrees C at Sundargarh, it said. While Bolangir recorded 41 degrees C, the maximum temperature at Titlagarh was 40 degrees. The maximum temperature in Bhubaneswar was recorded at 34.1 degrees Celsius, while Cuttack recorded 35 degrees Celsius, the MeT office said.
The MeT office has predicted rain and thundershower and cloudy sky in next 24 hours.
Rain forecast for Bengal
Moderate rain and thunderstorm may hit different parts of West Bengal in the next two days.
Asansol recorded the day’s highest temperature in the State at 36.3 degrees Celsius, the Met department said.
Bankura recorded a temperature of 35.9 degrees Celsius, three notches lower than average, while in Sriniketan and Burdwan the temperatures were 36.2 and 35.9 degrees C respectively.
Kolkata recorded the highest temperature through the day at 35.7 degrees C, and high humidity caused discomfort to the people.
In the hill town of Darjeeling, the day’s highest temperature was recorded at 19.5 degrees, while the lowest was 12.5 degrees. The Met department has forecast moderate rain or thunderstorm in both Gangetic West Bengal and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal for the next two days. - PTI
