Bhubaneswar: The Mahanadi along with its tributaries and other rivers in the state are in spate due to the heavy rainfall in its lower basin and also in the upper catchment areas in Chhattisgarh since Wednesday.
According to the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Baitarani was flowing above the danger mark at Akhuapada, Subarnarekha at Jamsholaghat and Rajghat and Jalaka at Mathani at 6 am on Friday.
Subarnarekha is flowing at 10.41 metres against the danger level of 10.36 metres near Rajghat in Balasore district. The flood-like situation turned grim after 6100 cusec water was released from Galudiha barrage. A total of 40 villages under Bhograi block and 30 villages in Baliapal block situated in low lying areas have been affected, reports said.
At 6 a.m, the water level of Hirakud dam was 628.83 feet against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 630 feet with 4.87 lakh cusecs of floodwater being discharged through 28 sluice gates to maintain the water level in the reservoir.
The release of excess water may cause a medium flood in the Mahanadi delta region, comprising the districts of Cuttack, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Puri, SRC Pradip Kumar Jena told the media on Thursday.
“It is expected that 8 lakh cusecs would flow through Mundali barrage near Cuttack during the peak flood period on Saturday night. Saturday evening and night are being considered crucial, particularly for Kendrapada and Puri districts through which several tributaries of the Mahanadi pass,” he said.
The situation would not become acute if the floodwater flows as per estimation. Arrangements are being made to ensure that a medium flood in the Mahanadi river system did not cause much damage, he added.
Odisha has deployed 52 teams of NDRF, ODRAF and fire service for rescue and relief operations.
Meanwhile, 10 villages in three panchayats – Orabarasingh, Brajamohanpur, Narangarh – under Khurda block are surrounded by floodwater released from Hirakud. Two villages are completely cut off from the mainland while boats have been deployed at Hirimula village, reports added.
