Cyclone Arnab-triggered rain and gusty winds damaged a major Gajalaxmi Puja pandal in Kendrapada town on Wednesday night, blocking a busy road for nearly three hours and flooding several other festival venues, lanes and bylanes.
The pandal collapsed in the Sana Mangala locality when the venue was empty, preventing injuries or a larger disaster, Kendrapada police station inspector in charge Suvendu Sahoo said. Police later cleared the road and restored traffic movement.
The incident disrupted the week-long Gajalaxmi Puja celebrations, which began on Sunday. Several puja committees had scheduled programmes and public activities, but adverse weather forced many of them to be cancelled, said Mrutunjaya Mohanty, president of a puja committee in Kendrapada.
Heavy rain also affected other pandals across the town. Waterlogging was reported in several lanes and bylanes, while the continuing downpour kept residents indoors and reduced visits to the temporary festival venues. The weather conditions also disrupted the traditional rounds that residents make during the celebrations.
Residents said the rain made it difficult to visit the pandals. “We got drenched during our customary visit to the puja pandals,” said Mitali Rout of Khadianga locality. College student Rahul Das said his group had planned to visit several pandals on Thursday, but the rain spoiled those plans.
The disruption extended to businesses operating around the festival venues. Traders and stall owners reported losses during what is usually an important period for local sales. Food stall owner Pravat Sahoo said the rain had severely affected business, with sales falling despite the ongoing Gajalaxmi Puja festivities.
The collapse highlights the immediate safety and traffic risks posed to temporary public structures during severe weather, particularly when festivals draw crowds and occupy roads or open spaces. In this case, the late-night timing meant the venue was empty when the structure gave way. Police clearance of the affected road was the stated response, while the weather continued to affect festival activity across Kendrapada town.
