Rourkela: Incessant rain over last two days has thrown life out of gear in this city even as a tea vendor was electrocuted while a youth was swept away in the swelling waters of a nullah Sunday.
Besides, many parts of the city were inundated by rainwater, giving residents a harrowing time.
The deceased was identified as Shakil Bag, a tea stall owner near Sector-17 auto stand. The incident occurred when he drew an electric wire from a nearby house and was trying to turn on his induction heater.
Locals rushed him to the Ispat General Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
In the second incident, Nrusingha Bag, a furniture shop worker and a native of Samaleshwari slum, was swept away in the swelling waters of a nullah near Gajapati market in Sector-18.
He was relieving himself when he slipped into the water body. Bag failed to save himself as he was a handicap. On being informed, Sector-19 police and fire officials launched a search operation but failed to trace him.
The incessant rain which started Saturday night and continued Sunday morning created an artificial flood like situation by submerging several low-lying regions of the city. The severe water-logging made it impossible for the denizens to venture out of their houses, it was learnt.
People were found busy draining out rainwater from their houses with many of them going without food for the day as they failed to cook.
Traffic on the stretch from Rourkela Municipal Corporation office to Traffic Gate was disrupted for a few hours after a large tree got uprooted and fell on the middle of the road. Traffic resumed on the route after fire officials removed the tree.
Rainwater entered several houses in Kalinga Vihar, Balughat Sardar slum, Pakistan slum, Sector-18-E block, Sector-16, Gopabandhupalli, Telipada, Loharapada, Amarnath slum, Uttam slum in Bandhamunda, Oriya slum in Coal Gate, Pradhan slum and Bhuyan slum. Four rain-soaked houses at Amarnath slum in Gopabandhupalli collapsed Sunday. PNN