Sambalpur: The season’s first floodwater was released from Hirakud Dam in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Sunday.
The sluice gate number 7 was first opened in the morning after the ceremonial puja.
According to officials, a total of 20 gates were opened in 3 phases – 7 gates at 9.30 am, another 7 at 12.30 am and rest 6 gates at 2.30 pm, to flush out excess water amid heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of river Mahanadi and the inflow of water into the reservoir.
The water level of Hirakud stood at 616.93 ft against its intake capacity of 630 feet, at 6 am. While the inflow of water into the reservoir was 3, 16,000 cusec, the outflow was 40,126 cusec.
A decision on opening more sluice gates will be taken on Monday after assessment of the situation as huge flow of water into the reservoir still continued, dam officials said.
Due to opening of 20 gates, the Khairmal discharge would be around 4.50 lakh causes by 8 am on July 29 and Mundali discharge will be around 5 lakh cusecs by 11 am on July 30. the office of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said.
“Collector of Sambalpur, Sonepur, Nayagarh, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada have been asked to alert the people downstream not to enter to the Mahanadi riverside. Animals will also not be allowed for gazing close to the river. Collectors are also requested to remain alert and monitor the situation so that no untoward incident happens,” it added.
