Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday stated that there is no immediate threat of flood in the state despite considerable rise in water levels of major rivers following incessant rain in the state.
Officials said heavy rain across several river catchment areas led to rise in water levels in major rivers such as the Baitarani, Budhabalanga, and Subarnarekha. However, the Water Resources Department made it clear that there is no flood threat in the state at present.
Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department, Chandra Sekhar Padhi told reporters that some rivers have started swelling following rainfall since Monday.
As per the observation made by the department in catchment areas on Tuesday morning, Budhabalanga River received 43.07 mm rainfall, Baitarani River 30.65 mm, Subarnarekha River 20.97 mm, Kolab Basin 29.20 mm, Nagavali River 20.18 mm, Indravati River 16.36 mm, Lower Brahmani 15 mm, and Bansadhara River 10.82 mm.
Following this rainfall, water levels in the Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Jalaka, and Subarnarekha rivers are rising and may approach warning levels in some locations. However, unless further significant rainfall occurs today, these rivers are unlikely to breach danger levels, Padhi said.
“As of now, there is no flood situation in any of the river systems in the state. We are closely monitoring the situation. The rivers will remain below danger marks if there is no substantial rain,” he said.
All field officials have been alerted and standard operating procedures (SOP) are in place to deal with emerging situations.
Meanwhile, the Hirakud reservoir recorded a water level of 626.31 feet while Rengali stands at 122.73 metres. Four more sluice gates of Hirakud dam were reportedly opened to release excess water from the reservoir.