Bhubaneswar: Odisha is staring at a major flood threat as the Mahanadi river system continues to swell following heavy rainfall in its upper catchments and the release of large volumes of water from upstream reservoirs, prompting authorities to issue alerts for several downstream districts.
With floodwaters moving rapidly downstream, officials warned that the situation could worsen over the next 24 to 48 hours as the Mahanadi and its distributaries are expected to witness a substantial rise in water levels.
The state government said more than 9.5 lakh cusecs of floodwater is likely to pass through Mundali, one of the most critical flood-monitoring points on the Mahanadi, making the situation particularly sensitive for low-lying areas of coastal Odisha.
The flood threat has been compounded by heavy rainfall over the Mahanadi basin during the past two days under the influence of the cyclonic system over the Bay of Bengal. At the same time, neighbouring Chhattisgarh has been releasing floodwater through 64 of the 66 sluice gates of the Kalama barrage, increasing inflows into the Hirakud reservoir in Odisha.
To regulate the rising inflow, the Hirakud Dam authorities have already opened 10 sluice gates, releasing nearly two lakh cusecs of water downstream. Officials said additional gates could be opened if inflows continue to rise.
The state water resources department said the swelling Mahanadi is expected to raise water levels in several of its distributaries, including the Kathajodi, Luna, Chitrotpala, Kuakhai, Devi, Bhargavi, Kushabhadra, Daya, Karandia, Paika and Dhanua rivers, posing a flood risk across large parts of the coastal belt.
The impact is likely to be felt in Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Cuttack districts. In Cuttack district, the Banki and Athagarh subdivisions have been identified among the most vulnerable areas.
Flood conditions have already begun emerging in parts of the river system. The Bhargavi River was flowing at 11.25 feet at Balanga, well above its danger level of 10.42 feet, while the Devi River at Bauriakana touched 5.08 feet, exceeding its danger mark of 4.95 feet.
At Jobra Anicut, over 3.97 lakh cusecs of water was being discharged from the Mahanadi, while the river level stood at 21.20 metres, reflecting the mounting pressure on the downstream river system.
Meanwhile, a breach in the Mahanadi embankment at Jodum under Badamba block in Cuttack district submerged agricultural land, raising concerns about further erosion and inundation if river levels continue to rise.
As a precautionary measure, the district administration has imposed BNS Section 163 in and around the Dhabaleswar, Bhattarika and Singhanath temple areas, restricting public movement in view of the rising floodwaters.
Elsewhere in the state, flood conditions have also deteriorated in northern districts. Reports from Jajpur said seven embankment breaches occurred in different locations, while the Brahmani, Kharasrota and Kandal rivers were flowing above danger levels, inundating several villages. Although water levels have begun receding in Balasore district, many villages continue to remain cut off due to damaged and submerged roads.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed district administrations to maintain round-the-clock surveillance of river levels, strengthen vulnerable embankments and remain prepared for evacuation wherever necessary. Rescue teams have been kept on standby as authorities urged residents of low-lying areas to remain alert and strictly follow official advisories.
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