Bhubaneswar: With the Mahanadi River swelling rapidly following release of water through 28 gates of Hirakud Dam, threat of flood loomed over several parts of Odisha on Monday.
The flow of floodwater in the Mahanadi through Mundali in Kataka district has increased and around 8 lakh cusec water is expected to pass through the barrage on Monday.
Huge volume of water flow has reportedly affected several areas along the Mahanadi, leaving 10 panchayats in Banki and Tigiria blocks of Kataka cut off from the rest of the world.
Officials said this is the fourth flood situation in the Mahanadi this year. Officials said the water level in the Hirakud reservoir is steadily rising. As of 10 am, it stood at 629.39 feet with an inflow of 6,48,539 cusecs and an outflow of 4,96,069 cusecs.
In the upstream Sukhasoda area, floodwater has already crossed the embankment and entered nearby villages, submerging hundreds of hectares of agricultural land.
Floodwater is also rising once again at Mundali. As of 9 am, 7,60,262 cusecs of water was flowing through the barrage. The upstream water level was recorded at 91.90 feet while the downstream level stood at 89.60 feet. The discharge increased by around 6,000 cusecs per hour between 9 am and 10 am, indicating a further rise in the water flow.
People living in low-lying areas and riverine districts, including Kataka Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada have been advised to remain alert.
The administration has sounded alert about possible waterlogging in Banki, Badamba and Athagada in Kataka district, Kanas, Nimapada and Gop in Puri district, Erasama and Balikuda in Jagatsinghpur district, and Patkura and Derabish in Kendrapada district.
Floodwater has already started affecting several roads and bridges in the area. Around one foot of water was flowing over the Bilipada-Talabasta road, while nearly two feet of water has accumulated over the Kainia canal. Similarly, around two feet of floodwater was flowing over the Huluhula bridge on the Subarnapur-Ratagada road.
The rising water has also submerged hundreds of hectares of farmland, raising concerns among farmers over possible crop damage and losses.
The administration is closely monitoring the flow of the floodwater and the situation in vulnerable areas. However, the rising water level has triggered anxiety among residents living in low-lying parts of Banki and nearby areas.
