Rourkela: Rourkela faced severe waterlogging following downpour that began on Sunday night and continued till Monday morning. The lack of adequate drainage systems has left several areas submerged, sparking outrage among residents.The Rourkela railway station, particularly near the second gate, was badly affected, with vehicles submerged in the water.The situation was dire for those living in slums and low-lying areas. Sundargarh collector Manoj Satywan Mahajan visited some of the worst-hit slum areas to assess the situation and speak to the affected residents. On Monday evening, 20 families from the Balughat area were evacuated and provided shelter at the Government UP School in Balughat.The incessant rain led to waterlogging in several key areas, including the TCI underpass, Dandiapalli, Dayanand Nagar, Biswakarma Vihar, Nala Road, Malgodown and Tungritola. Parking Spot No. 5 at the railway station, part of the Smart City project, was one of the worst-hit areas, with water reaching waist height. Vehicles, including cars, auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers, were left half-submerged, causing engines to fail and leaving commuters struggling to retrieve their vehicles.

The TCI underpass area was also severely affected, immobilizing buses and trucks. School buses carrying students and teachers were forced to turn back, unable to navigate the flooded roads.Residents expressed their frustration with the Rourkela municipal corporation (RMC), questioning the lack of a proper drainage system. "What is the RMC doing? After heavy rainfall, water is entering our houses," said a resident of Dandiapalli.In response to the crisis, senior officials from RMC, including sanitation teams, were deployed to affected areas to create passages for water drainage. An earthmover was used to help clear the water and cooked meals were distributed to residents in the worst-affected areas, such as Nala Road, Malgodown and Tungritola.Mahajan, along with RMC commissioner Ashutosh Kulkarni, visited several affected slum areas to help and ensure relief efforts were underway. "We, including our sanitation team, tried our best to clear the water from the submerged areas today and are committed to addressing the situation," said A Patnaik, assistant commissioner of RMC. "Twenty affected families from the Balughat area have been evacuated and have been given shelter in a govt school," added Patnaik.