Cuttack: Water from the Mahanadi river yet again has reached the Maa Bhattarika temple in Cuttack district of Odisha following incessant heavy rains on the upper catchment of the river.
The local administration and the puja committee are in deep concern as the water has reached the temple, which is dedicated to the presiding deity of Badamba Garh, Maa Bhattarika, at a time when they were gearing up for the Maha Saptami rituals.
According to reports, though the river water has touched the foot of the temple, which is dedicated to the presiding deity of Badamba Garh, Maa Bhattarika, but has not entered the Garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum.
The temple administration and the sevayats are closely monitoring the situation and have planned to shift the deity if the water level increases by evening and reaches close to the sanctum sanctorum. Besides, they have taken all precautionary measure so that the rituals of the deity are not disrupted.
It is not the first time that the water from the river has entered the premises of the temple, which is situated on the bank of the river. The Mahanadi river water increases and enters the temple whenever the slues gates of the Hirakud reservoir are opened to release the flood water.
