Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday ruled out any immediate threat of flood in the state though heavy rain triggered by a low-pressure pounded many parts of the state causing waterlogging and damage in several areas.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari told reporters that all major rivers in the state is currently flowing below the danger mark, though water levels are gradually rising in some areas.
The Mahanadi River is also flowing below the danger mark at Naraj in Cuttack, he said, adding, “There is no immediate flood threat from any major river in the state,”
While reports of damage to crops and some structures and water-logging due to incessant rain have been received from districts like Bhadrak, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh, floodwater has not entered any residential zones so far, Pujari said.
While district Collectors have been put on alert and directed to stay prepared for any possible flood situation, relief camps and flood shelters have been kept ready, and teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed in vulnerable areas.
He urged people residing in vulnerable areas to move to nearby shelter homes if floodwaters enter their homes.
The Minister further stated that the authorities concerned have been asked to send detailed damage assessment reports from Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts. Compensation will be released to the respective collectors based on their submissions.
Meanwhile, the water level in the Mahanadi River system is on the rise following the release of the season’s first floodwater from Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur district on Sunday.
At present, 3.34 lakh cusecs of water are being discharged through 20 sluice gates at Hirakud. Approximately 4.5 lakh cusecs are expected to reach Mundali tomorrow, which is still below the danger level,” a senior official of the Water Resources Department said.
Further decision on additional gate openings will depend on rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi, he said, adding that two gates at Rengali Dam are also open.
Though Budhabalanga river recorded 55 mm of rain, the increased flow poses no serious threat, officials said.
