Odisha Flood: Decision On Closing Hirakud Gates Today

Sambalpur: A decision on closing sluice gates of Hirakud Dam reservoir in Odisha’s Sambalpur will be taken this evening, Water Resources Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) Bijay Kumar Mishra informed on Thursday.

“Excess flood water released from Hiarkud is likely to reach Mundali this evening and flow is expected at 10 lakh cusecs,” said Mishra.

Efforts are being taken to control the water flow and reduce it to around 8 lakh cusec, he added.

The water level in Hirakud reservoir was 624.69 feet at 9 am. The dam was receiving 4.40 lakh cusec water from the upstream and discharging 6.74 lakh cusec through 40 sluice gates.

The EIC further said that seven breaches in the Mahanadi have been reported so far.

It is pertinent to mention here that very heavy rainfall is likely to occur for the next few days under the influence of the low pressure area that formed over northeast and adjoining areas of east central Bay of Bengal off Bangladesh-Myanmar coasts at 5.30 am.

The system is likely to move west-northwestwards and become well-marked during the next 12 hours and intensify into a depression during the subsequent 24 hours.