Heavy Rain Paralyzes Bhubaneswar: Streets Flooded, Traffic Snarled

Bhubaneswar, Oct 8 — A sudden 45-minute spell of intense rainfall wreaked havoc across Odisha’s capital city on Wednesday, flooding major roads and bringing traffic to a grinding halt.

Commuters were left stranded as vehicles crawled through waterlogged streets, with rainwater gushing through residential and commercial zones alike.

The downpour exposed glaring deficiencies in the city’s drainage infrastructure, particularly in low-lying areas that were quickly submerged. Local authorities are monitoring the situation, but residents continue to face severe inconvenience.

Eyewitnesses reported knee-deep water in several neighbourhoods, with emergency services stretched thin.

The civic administration has urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and assured that dewatering operations are underway.

This incident has reignited public debate over Bhubaneswar’s urban planning and flood preparedness, especially as climate volatility increases the frequency of such events.