Bhubaneswar, Aug 15: Incessant rains triggered by depression could cause a possible medium-level flood in the Mahanadi river system as the majority of rivers in Odisha are showing rising trends and flowing above the danger level.
In a bid to prevent possible flooding in the lower catchment areas of the Mahanadi river system the Odisha government on Monday closed eight sluice gates of Hirakud dam and opened only 28 gates to release flood waters entering the dam.
Official sources said water is rising in Mahandi,Devi, Budhabalanga, Kushabhadra, Ib Baitarani Bansadhara, Rushikulya and Jalaka in the state inundating several low-lying areas and villages located along the river coast, disrupting road communication as flood waters are flowing over several roads.
The state government has alerted the collectors of all the coastal districts to take all possible measures as a medium flood is expected in the Mahanadi river system since over 10.5 lakh cusecs water is now flowing at Mundali which is likely to go up further by this evening.
Reports reaching the state headquarter said the water level of Mahanadi at Naraj has already crossed the danger level.
State Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena has already reviewed the possible flood situation with senior officials of the Water Resources department, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Services.
The state government has already deployed ten NDRF, 12 ODRAF teams in the districts, which may get flooded.
Official sources said as many as 130 of the total 314 blocks in the state received more rain during the past two days and the IMD has predicted more showers in the state in the coming days.
Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi district recorded the highest rainfall of 368 mm followed by 293 mm in Kotpad in Koraput district and 235.4 mm in K.Nugaon in Kandhamal district. Sources said at least seven places in the state received rainfall of 200 mm and 43 places between 115-200 mm in the past 24 hours following heavy rains.
‘IMD sources said the depression over North Chhattisgarh and neighbourhood has moved westnorthwestwards with a speed of 25 kmph during last six hours and lay centered over Northwest Chhattisgarh and adjoining East Madhya Pradesh near about 20 km southwest of Pendra Road (Chhattisgarh), 170 km east of Mandla (Madhya Pradesh) and 220 km east of Jabalpur
However, MET sources said a fresh Low-Pressure Area is likely to form over Northwest Bay of Bengal around August 19 next and warned that although the intensity of rainfall will come down in the next 48 hours, there is possibility of heavy rainfall activities for a period of two days starting from August 17.
Hirakud Dam sources said at about 1500 hours on Monday the water level in the dam was recorded at 621.54 feet. There has been an inflow of 9,85,060 cusecs of water into the dam while 4,45,924 cusecs water is being discharged from the dam through 28 gates.
