Bhubaneswar | On Thursday, Odisha remained in a state of high alert due to worsening flood conditions in four northern districts, as officials warned of a potential “medium” flood in the downstream areas of the Mahanadi River due to rising water levels.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari reported that while some rivers in northern Odisha were beginning to recede, they still surpassed the danger threshold, leading to the flooding of new areas overnight.
He emphasized that the administration is actively monitoring the situation, with all official leaves in flood-affected districts cancelled.
Continuous rainfall caused by a deep depression has submerged numerous villages in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Mayurbhanj.
In light of the Indian Meteorological Department’s rainfall predictions and the ongoing flood crisis, authorities have decided to close schools and anganwadi centers in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi.
Rescue efforts have been ramped up, with officials reporting that over 165,000 individuals have been evacuated to safety. To date, more than 600,000 people have been impacted by the flooding.
Jajpur collector Ambar Kumar Kar noted that the situation deteriorated further when two breaches occurred in the Kani River embankment, a tributary of the Baitarani, near Patana in the Dasarathapur block late Wednesday night. These breaches inundated several villages and impacted additional areas, affecting residents in three blocks.
The rising levels of the Mahanadi River have become a significant concern as authorities alerted districts along its basin following heavy rains in the river’s upper catchment areas located in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
According to an official, the flood risk has escalated as water from the Tel, Ib, and Jira rivers is contributing to the Mahanadi’s flow, resulting in an increase in water levels.
The Hirakud Dam’s water level reached 620 feet, close to its full capacity of 630 feet. The dam was experiencing an inflow of 331,063 cusecs, while 64,109 cusecs were being released downstream through two gates. Officials indicated that more gates might need to be opened if the water levels keep increasing.
Dillip Kumar Rout, Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department, reported that approximately 800,000 cusecs of water was flowing through Mundali, near Cuttack, at 6 am Thursday, with projections suggesting it could rise to 900,000 cusecs by evening, potentially resulting in a medium flood in the Mahanadi system.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, currently in Delhi, stated via social media on Wednesday night that he had instructed district collectors to maintain a heightened state of alert and to ensure timely aid for all affected individuals.
