Flood Situation In Odisha Not Alarming, Says Govt

Bhubaneswar: The flood situation in Odisha is not alarming in spite of heavy rainfall for the last few days, said Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources Jyotirmay Rath on Wednesday.

Rath told the media that except Baitarani and Jalaka rivers, other major rivers like the Mahanadi, Devi, Kushabhadra, Ib, Brahmani, Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Vansadhara and Rushikulya are flowing under the danger level.

While Baitarani was flowing at a height of 39.97 metre at Rajghar in Anandpur against the danger level of 38.36 metre and 18.52 metre at Akhuapada against the danger level of 17.83 metres, the Jalaka river in Balasore was flowing at 6.58 metre at Mathani against the danger level of 5.5 metre.

Considering the gradual rise in the water level of Baitarani and Jalaka, flood in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts is likely, Rath said.

On the flood situation in Mahanadi, he said by 3 pm on Wednesday, the discharge of floodwater through 10 gates of Hirakud dam was 1,88,719 cusec while it was 4.6 lakh cusecs at Kharimal, 4.46 lakh cusec at Barmul and 4,63,818 cusec at Mundali.

“Although the discharge of floodwater from Hirakud has raised the water level, there will be no flood situation in the lower catchment areas as there is no rainfall in the upper catchment in Chhattisgarh in the last 24 hours. Besides, barring Balangir, there is no heavy rainfall in any areas in the lower catchments during the period. As a result, the water level of the river in the lower catchments will come down in next 24 hours,” Rath said.

However, he said that there will be a moderate flood in Jajpur and Bhadrak. “As the floodwater of Baitarani is expected to enter the low-lying areas in these two districts by Thursday morning, the collectors of these districts have been asked to remain on a high alert,” he added.

The water level of the major rivers recorded at 3 pm on Wednesday is Mentioned below: