Flood Fear Looms Large in Mahanadi As 36 Sluice Gates of Hirakud opened to Discharge Flood Water

Sambalpur: Heavy rains in the upper catchment area of the river Mahanadi is likely to cause floods likely in the lower catchment areas, apprehends Water Resources Department today.

The Hirakud Dam Upper Mahanadi Basin Chief Engineer and Basin Manager in a letter stated that due to heavy rainfall in the upstream catchment of Hirakud Dam and heavy inflow into reservoir is likely to cause floods.

According to reports, the upper catchment of Mahanadi received over 200 mm of rainfall on Thursday.

According to latest information as many as 36 sluice gates have been opened to discharge the rainwater.

The water level at the dam stands at 625 feet
The Hirakud reservoir will open eight more gates, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur districts are likely to be affected.

Meanwhile river Subarnarekha was flowing at 10.84 meteres at Rajghat and river Budhabalang at NH-5 was flowing at 7.72-Meteres . Similarly, river Jalaka was flowing at 6.6 meters at Mathani at 3 pm.