Heavy rains lead to water logging at Orissa temple

BHUBANESWAR - Heavy rains, triggered by the southwest monsoon, hit normal life in Orissa Friday and caused severe water logging in the famous Sun Temple in Konark, an official said.

Krishnaprasad town in Puri district received 140 mm of rain, followed by Kakatpur, Nimapara and Ranpur towns in the same district with 110 mm rainfall each during the last 24 hours, the official said.

Ambabhona town in Bargarh district witnessed 110 mm of rainfall, he said.

In Bhubaneswar and its adjoining city Cuttack, schools, colleges and offices witnessed thin attendance due to heavy downpour. Waterlogging was reported from the low lying areas of both the cities while road traffic was disrupted at many places.

Hundreds of tourists faced inconvenience as they had to walk on the premises of the 13th century old Sun Temple at Konark in Puri district, about 65 km from here, in knee dip water, a tourist said.

The rain water choked all the drains and the authorities’ attempt to flush water by motor pumps did not yield much results at the temple - a world heritage site.

“We have asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take immediate measures,” a senior official of the state tourism department said.

“The state is likely to witness more rains during the next 24 hours,” S.C. Sahu, director of the meteorological centre here, told IANS.