Rajnagar: The last remaining portion of the Maa Panchubarahi Temple on the coast of the Bay of Bengal at sea-erosion-hit Satabhaya in Kendrapada district was destroyed and swept away by high tides Sunday, leaving no visible remains of the historic temple.
The temple had stood as a landmark of Satabhaya along the coast.
Rising sea levels and coastal erosion linked to climate change had already forced the relocation of 719 families from Satabhaya to the Bagapatia rehabilitation colony.
The presiding deity was shifted to a newly built temple at the rehabilitation colony in 2018.
However, the old temple continued to stand on the seashore. Since 2020, repeated incursions by the sea gradually damaged and submerged the temple.
A portion of the structure remained on the shore for about four years before the high tide Sunday swept away its final remains.
The sea also swept away two lion statues that stood in front of the temple.
