Balasore/Sambalpur: Jalaka river in Balasore and the Mahanadi have started swelling following heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas.
As informed by the district emergency operations centre (EOC), the Jalaka river was flowing at 6.42 metres as against the danger level of 5.5 metres at Mathani in Basta block by 12 pm on Monday.
The floodwaters are likely to enter villages of Kudia, Mathani, Bahanaga and Dudhasara panchayats in Basta block if the water level crosses 6.75 metres.
The district administration has taken necessary steps to evacuate people of these riverside panchayats and shift them to the nearby schools and flood shelters.
In Sambalpur, the water level of Hirakud Dam by 12 pm was 622.81 feet (as against the optimum level of 360 feet) while the inflow and the outflow were 1,60,322 cusecs and 22,241 cusecs per second respectively. While the dam authorities have closed all the gates, the floodwaters are being released through the left and right canal. Besides, floodwaters being discharged at Khairmal was 1.78 lakh cusecs per second and Barmul and Mundali barrage at 97,500 and 90,000 cusecs per second respectively.
