By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 16, 2018: Normal life virtually was hit on Monday in many parts of Odisha following incessant rain in several that due to waterlogging in low-lying areas in several places particularly in southern, western and coastal Odisha.

Vehicular movement was disrupted and at several places roads were cut off. Water level was also rising in major rivers, officials said.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnu Pada Sethi said 12 districts of the state have received an average of 50 mm rainfall since yesterday. High volume of rainfall was recorded in districts like Kalahandi and Nuapada, he said adding that there was no need to panic as situation is under control.

Officials concerned have been asked to remain watchful as rain was likely to continue till tomorrow, mainly in south and coastal Odisha.

In Bhubaneswar, low-lying areas in Jaydev Vihar, Acharya Vihar, Nayapalli, Jagamara, Vani Vihar, Gouri Nagar, Tankapani Road, Old Town and Chandrasekharpur witnessed water-logging. Authorities have to declare closure of all schools in Cuttack for the day, officials said.

To deal with the situation, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has opened a control room for lodging of complaints about water logging.

The situation is equally bad in Puri where the people are seen struggling to reach their destinations. Devotees, who thronged the holy town for the Ratha Jatra festival of Lord Jagannath, have to wade through knee-deep water on ‘Bada Danda’, the Grand Road. A portion of a boundary wall of the Markendaya pond in Puri collapsed following rain.

Incessant rain also wreaked havoc in Kalahandi, Rayagada and Ganjam districts where several villages have been cut-off due to submergence of roads. One bridge collapsed due to heavy rain in Raygada district, sources said.

The water level in the Hati and the Tel Rivers in Kalahandi district is rising steadily but remains below the danger mark, officials said adding rain water inundated many places in Dharmagarh and Junagarh areas of the district.

In Ganjam district, the situation remained grim as rainwater gushed into houses and farmlands in low-lying areas at Kabisuryanagar and Aska.