In Anugola, Odisha, heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas prompted officials to open Gate No. 8 at the Rengali Dam on Monday. This action was taken to discharge excess floodwater into the Brahmani River basin.
This is the second occurrence of water being released this year as reservoir levels continue to rise. Currently, the dam is experiencing an inflow of about 2,500 cubic metres per second (cumecs). To ensure safety and operational integrity, engineers are releasing nearly 2,000 cumecs through the dam’s sluice gate and power channel. The water level has reached 122.14 metres, nearing the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 123.50 metres.
In response to the water release, the local administration along with the Water Resources Department has issued safety warnings for residents living downstream along the Brahmani River, advising them to avoid riverbanks and refrain from entering the water.
Officials have indicated that although the inflow exceeds the outflow, the situation is under control, and there is no immediate threat of flooding downstream.
Water levels in the Baitarani, Salandi, Kani, and parts of the Mahanadi river system, which had been receding, surged again on Sunday after significant rainfall over the previous 24 hours. This rise has led to flooding in low-lying areas, crop damage, and disruption of road connectivity in Jajpur and nearby Bhadrak districts. A previously repaired embankment breach in the Dasrathpur block has widened again, necessitating the relocation of dozens of families to safer areas. Similar breaches and rising water levels have impacted several villages in Tarapada and adjacent panchayats, keeping residents alert as meteorological forecasts predict ongoing rainfall and a potential new low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal around August 13.
Additionally, on Sunday, four more sluice gates at the Hirakud Dam were opened to release surplus water from the reservoir, increasing the total number of gates opened to 12, following heavy rains in the upper catchment of neighboring Chhattisgarh.
