A flood threat looms over several parts of Odisha as heavy rainfall across the state triggered a rapid rise in water levels across major river systems, with the Baitarani River breaching the danger mark at Akhuapada on Friday morning.
The Water Resources Department has gone on high alert, closely monitoring vulnerable basins—particularly the Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, and Baitarani—as swollen rivers approach peak levels.
Key Developments Across River Basins
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Baitarani River (Breached Danger Level): Flowing at 18.66 metres on Friday morning, well past its danger threshold of 18.33 metres at Akhuapada. Officials project the water level to peak around 19.2 metres by 7:00 PM today before beginning to recede.
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Budhabalanga River: Rapidly rising toward critical levels. Recorded at 7.98 metres near Govindpur (NH-5) against a danger level of 8.14 metres, with forecasts predicting it will reach 8.6 metres by Friday evening.
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Subarnarekha River: Currently at 8.85 metres at Rajghat against a danger mark of 10.36 metres. Following a discharge of 2,800 cusecs from the Galudih barrage, levels are expected to touch around 10.5 metres, slightly crossing the danger threshold without extreme inundation.
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Jalaka & Salandi Rivers: The Jalaka at Mathani is showing an upward trend at 6.78 metres (historical peak: 7.4 metres). The Salandi at Rajghat reached 16.70 feet, hovering just under its 17-foot danger mark.
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Southern Odisha Basins: Conditions remain stable or improving. The Rushikulya River is receding at Sorada, Madhaparida, and Purushottampur. Water levels in the Bansadhara basin across Gajapati and Rayagada remain steady below danger levels.
Widespread Rainfall & Reservoir Status
Statewide rainfall data recorded at 9:00 AM on Friday showed heavy, widespread precipitation, with 63 locations registering around 100 mm of rainfall and 161 places recording over 50 mm.
Addressing the media, Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department Dillip Kumar Rout confirmed active reservoir management to handle incoming surface runoff:
“The storage level in the Indravati reservoir in Nabarangpur surged from 84% to 94% due to intense rainfall. To manage inflow, five spillway gates have been opened. Fortunately, rainfall in that area has ceased since morning.”
— Dillip Kumar Rout, Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources Dept.
Other key reservoirs retain sufficient cushion:
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Upper Kolab (Koraput): Storage rose from 50% to 67%; no gate operations required.
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Balimela (Malkangiri): Storage increased from 40% to 60%, with ample capacity remaining.
Departmental field teams remain deployed across vulnerable stretches along the Northern and Northern-Coastal districts to monitor embankments and manage potential overflow as river discharges peak on Friday evening.
