Non-stop shower cripples life
Sunday September 23 2007 04:26 IST

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BHUBANESWAR: As the depression over the Bay of Bengal crossed Orissa coast near Puri on Saturday evening, an unrelenting spell of rain completely threw normal life out of gear in coastal and southern districts, claiming at least five lives.

While continuous rains threatened another round of floods, what caused havoc was severe waterlogging, bringing life to a complete stop. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack were the worst hit and all five deaths, caused by wall collapse, were reported from these two areas.

Relentless rains left almost all the rivers in spate. By evening, Mahanadi was rising at Khairamal and Naraj while Devi was swelling too. Baitarani and Brahmani too rose at some stations.

In northern Orissa, Budhabalanga was rising at all its gauge points, while Subarnarekha too was in spate. Bansandhara and Rushikulya in southern parts of the State continued to rise with rains showing little signs of abating during the next 48 hours.

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