Major Flood Threat In Mahanadi; Floodwaters To Reach Mundali In 36 Hours

Bhubaneswar: Heavy rain has triggered flood fears in Mahanadi river basin.

Water Resources Engineer-In-Chief Jyotirmaya Ratha told the media on Friday that the Mahanadi and its tributaries are in spate following heavy rain (200 mm) in the upper catchment area.

“Medium to large scale flood likely in Mahanadi river basin. Floodwater discharge underway through 28 gates of Hirakud Dam and eight more gates will be opened. Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Jagatsinghpur districts are likely to be affected,” he said.

Ratha said 10.5 lakh cusecs of floodwater is likely to reach Mundali in the next 36 hours.

He said the water level in Baitarini has decreased with the opening of four gates of Rengali Dam.

On Thursday, SRC Pradeep Jena had said that a low to medium flood was expected in Brahmani, Baitarani and Subarnarekha river system.

The Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, has not issued any heavy rain warning for Odisha from August 28 to 31. “Light to moderate rainfall likely to occur in a few places in interior and coastal Odisha districts from August 28 to 31,” Director HR Biswas had said on Thursday.