In Keonjhar district, the diversion road for the under-construction Baunsajora bridge on the Kanjipani-Kuntala route was washed away on Sunday, leading to significant traffic disruptions and cutting off communication between Telkoi and Jagmohanpur along National Highway 49.

Sources indicate that heavy rainfall over the last two days led to the collapse of the diversion road near Lokanathpur village.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has been unable to initiate repairs due to the high water flow in the area.

Consequently, access to Jagmohanpur, Deogarh, Sambalpur, and Rourkela has been severely affected. Over 20 villages in the Telkoi block, including Chhamunda and Binjabahal, are now isolated from the block headquarters, impacting emergency services.

Chinmay Sahu, a local journalist, reported, “The diversion bridge was washed away since Sunday morning and has not been repaired yet. People are facing unprecedented problems.”

Passenger buses and other vehicles are currently navigating a narrow route through Dobalapal and Chhamunda.

Residents have called on the district administration for immediate intervention. The bridge construction was incomplete before the monsoon season, forcing vehicles to rely on the temporary diversion road, which was ultimately swept away by heavy rains.

Local residents have attributed the situation to alleged negligence by the PWD and the poor quality of the diversion work.

A budget of Rs 29.39 crore has been allocated for the construction of two bridges over Hanumantia Nala and Baunsa Jhari Nala, along with upgrades to a 12-km stretch of road from Telkoi to Nampashi village in Angul district.

However, the construction has been progressing slowly, exacerbating the current situation. Following the washout, PWD officials inspected the site.

Nihar Nayak, a junior engineer with the PWD, assured the media, “The road will be repaired soon, and traffic will be normalized.”

As of Sunday evening, over 12 hours after the washout, repairs had not been completed, leaving communication to Telkoi still disrupted.