Weather Watch: Relentless Rains Flood Puri as Chhattisgarh River Sweep Triggers Search Operation

Torrential monsoon rains have unleashed widespread disruption in eastern and central India, leaving roads submerged, traffic crippled, and emergency teams battling dangerous flood conditions. In Odisha’s temple town of Puri, heavy rainfall transformed several major roads into waterlogged stretches, severely affecting daily life and movement. Areas including Balagandi witnessed extensive flooding as vehicles struggled through deep water while pedestrians navigated flooded streets with extreme caution. Water also entered shops, marketplaces, and nearby residential areas, disrupting business activity and creating fresh challenges for residents and pilgrims visiting the sacred city. Meanwhile, a tragic incident in Chhattisgarh’s Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district has intensified concerns over monsoon safety. A car carrying former village sarpanch Devnarayan Patel and his wife Savita Patel was swept away while attempting to cross the Madhavpali bridge amid a powerful river current. Dramatic visuals from the scene showed the vehicle being overwhelmed within seconds before disappearing downstream. Police, disaster response personnel, divers, and local volunteers immediately launched an extensive search and rescue operation across the riverbanks and downstream locations. Authorities continue scanning the affected stretch in hopes of locating the missing couple. The incident has drawn large crowds of anxious villagers, highlighting the growing risks posed by swollen rivers and overflowing water bodies during the ongoing monsoon season.

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