Bhubaneswar: With floodwaters from the swelling Mahanadi River entering the sacred precincts of Maa Bhattarika Temple in Badamba in Kataka district, the local administration has issued a prohibition order restricting public access to the riverbank and temple premises.
Officials said continuous heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas, coupled with increased water discharge from Hirakud Dam, has caused the Mahanadi to rise significantly. As a result, floodwater inundated the temple’s main sanctum sanctorum on Wednesday.
Following tradition and to ensure uninterrupted daily rituals, the temple administration and servitors immediately shifted the movable idol of Maa Bhattarika to a temporary sanctum on nearby Ratnagiri Hill. The hilltop serves as a designated flood shelter for the temple.
With the river level continuing to rise, security arrangements around the temple have been strengthened. The administration is closely monitoring the situation round the clock. Devotees and visitors have been strictly advised not to approach the riverbank and to avoid the low-lying areas near the temple until the water level recedes. Authorities said further steps will be taken based on the flood situation in the Mahanadi.
