Balangir, Sep 7: The Harishankar hill region witnessed intense rainfall this evening, reportedly leading to a surge of floodwater around the famed Harishankar waterfall.

The sudden downpour caused water to gush down from the slopes of Gandhamardhan hills, creating a powerful stream that inundated the surrounding areas.

Reports suggest that swirling floodwaters near the waterfall prompted panic among locals. The temple administration has issued a strict advisory, prohibiting visitors from approaching the waterfall zone until conditions stabilize.

Meteorological experts suspect the occurrence of a cloudburst, given the rapid accumulation of over 100 mm of rainfall within an hour — a threshold that typically defines such extreme weather events. Experts noted that the hilly terrain of Harishankar makes it particularly vulnerable to cloudburst-induced flooding.

The Shiva pilgrimage site was submerged, and the surrounding landscape turned into a waterlogged zone. The India Meteorological Department had earlier issued a yellow alert for Balangir district, warning of heavy rain, lightning, and thunderstorm activity.

Despite the chaos, no casualties have been reported so far. However, the exact rainfall measurement is yet to be confirmed.

Balangir reportedly recorded a maximum rainfall of 46 millimetres on Sunday. Therefore, there is a possibility that a cloudburst occurred in Harishankar.

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