Insects Swarm Bridge In Odisha's Jajpur; Reduce Visibility, Cause Bikers To Fall

Bhubaneswar: A strange and alarming incident gripped Odisha’s Jajpur district as a swarm of insects invaded the Kharasrota bridge near Baruan along National Highway 20 (NH-20), severely disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters.

In the video, which has gone viral, motorists and pedestrians are seen struggling to cross the bridge,
a key link between Jajpur and Bhubaneswar.Some bikers can also be seen falling off their two-wheelers.

According to locals, this is annual recurrence at the start of winter. The insects which nest along the riverbanks and in nearby forests emerge as the temperature drops and are drawn towards the bright lights of the vehicles. The swarm creates a loud buzzing sound, especially near moving vehicles, and reduces visibility.

“This busy road handles thousands of vehicles each day. Last night, a sudden insect swarm impaired visibility, resulting in collisions. The insects also left the road muddy and slippery, causing vehicles to skid despite braking,” said a commuter.

The problem has persisted over the years with no preventive measures being taken by the authorities, they alleged.