Cuttack: Torrential rain under the influence of Cyclone Arnab left large parts of Cuttack waterlogged on Wednesday, bringing traffic to a standstill at several locations and exposing the city’s persistent drainage woes.While low-lying pockets like Patapole, Mission Road, Telenga Bazar, Haripur and Professorpara bore the brunt of the downpour, major localities, including Madhupatna, Badambadi, Arunodaya Nagar, Bidanasi and Ranihat, were also inundated.Badambadi witnessed severe traffic congestion for several hours as rainwater submerged the main road, leaving vehicles stranded and commuters struggling to pass. The situation was equally distressing in Patapole, where people were seen wading through knee-deep water. Office-goers, pedestrians and two-wheeler riders faced considerable difficulties navigating the flooded stretches.“Waterlogging in our area has gone from bad to worse. Even a few hours of heavy rain is enough to submerge roads and make daily life miserable. People are forced to wade through dirty water, while commuters struggle to reach their destinations. The main market in Badambadi, which is in the heart of Cuttack, gets submerged following a short spell of rain,” said Prashant Sahoo, a resident of Badambadi.Cuttack mayor Subhash Singh said they were well prepared to deal with the situation. “More than 400 pumps have been installed across the city to drain out the accumulated rainwater. Our teams are monitoring waterlogging and working to ensure that water recedes from the affected areas,” said Singh.Laju Pani, a resident of Professorpara, said there is always a fear that water will enter homes if the rain continues. It’s even difficult to stay inside home because of the foul smell emanating from filthy rainwater, added Pani.Subash Biswal of Meria Bazar said a permanent solution is needed rather than temporary measures.