The floodwaters of the Mahanadi river reached the foothills of Maa Bhattarika Temple in Cuttack's Badamba area, sparking concern among the administration and the local festival committee on the day of Saptami Puja. Water levels have been rising steadily since Sunday morning, and if the situation worsens by tonight, Maa’s idol will have to be relocated for safety.

At present, 10 gates of the Hirakud dam in Odisha are open. Heavy rainfall in the downstream regions has further swelled the river, intensifying fears of flooding inside the temple premises. If water enters the sanctum, the idol will be shifted to the kitchen adjacent to the temple.

Authorities on High Alert

Temple servitors have been placed on high alert, while the Endowment Commission is closely monitoring the situation. Exte

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