Daringbadi: Traffic on the Daringbadi and Baliguda route in Kandhamal district came to a halt after a bypass bridge on the National Highway was washed away during a thunderstorm late Wednesday night.
The bridge on the NH passing through Sirtiguda in K. Nuagaon block was washed away disrupting traffic on the Daringbadi and Baliguda route.
Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on either side of the highway. An ambulance carrying a patient also got stuck sparking public anger.
Traffic resumed on the highway Thursday afternoon after the consultancy agency took up repair works in the morning and completed it.
A lawyer, Manoj Panda, said the bridge was washed away due to substandard work. The thunderstorm and hailstorm hit power supply in the area Wednesday night.
Unseasonal rain hits life
Sajanagad: Unseasonal rain along with thunder squalls affected life in various parts of Nilagiri block in Balasore district Wednesday evening. Rooftops of houses were blown away while trees and utility poles were uprooted at Sajanagad Cazaar, Nuasahi, Hatikut, Mandirasahi, Panabandh, Kusumia. Officials visited the gale-hit areas Thursday and assessed the damage. About 250 families were affected by the hailstorm. Farmers fear that pulses, groundnuts, sunflower, watermelon and pumpkin cultivations were hit. Farmers were worst affected by this hailstorm as cabbage, tomatoes, brinjal and onion cultivation were hit by it in the area.
PNN