First Floodwater Reaches Bhattarika Temple as Rising Mahanadi Raises Flood Concerns

Cuttack, July 7 (UDN): The first wave of monsoon floodwater entered the premises of the revered Bhattarika Temple in Odisha’s Cuttack district on Tuesday as the Mahanadi River swelled following days of incessant rainfall triggered by a low-pressure system.

The rising river breached the temple courtyard in Badamba, marking the onset of the annual flood season at one of the state’s prominent riverside shrines. Although the sanctum sanctorum remains unaffected, the ingress of floodwater has heightened concerns over the safety of devotees, temple infrastructure and nearby residents.

Despite the changing river conditions, local residents alleged that adequate precautionary measures are yet to be put in place by the Endowment Department and the local administration. They have urged authorities to strengthen security arrangements and regulate public movement around the temple as large crowds continue to gather to witness the swollen Mahanadi.

Temple servitor Sirish Kumar Rana said the water entering the temple premises was primarily the result of continuous rainfall over the past four days and not due to the release of water from the Hirakud Dam.

“This is the first floodwater of the season to reach the temple courtyard. The administration and temple servitors are fully alert. If the water level rises further, necessary steps will be taken to relocate the deity, and all rituals will continue without interruption,” he said.

Meanwhile, the aftermath of prolonged rainfall continues to affect several parts of western Odisha. In Subarnapur district, floodwater has yet to recede completely from many low-lying areas despite an improvement in weather conditions.

Waterlogging continues to disrupt daily life in several localities, with residents facing difficulties in movement and access to essential services. In Sonepur town, the Gokhaneswar Baba Temple and the Shani Temple, both situated along the banks of the Mahanadi, remain surrounded by floodwater, restricting access for devotees and affecting daily religious activities.

Authorities are closely monitoring the river’s water level and have appealed to people to stay away from flooded areas and follow official advisories as the flood situation evolves.