The situation along the Mahanadi River basin has intensified as authorities at the Hirakud Dam scaled up floodwater discharge operations to manage mounting pressure from heavy upper catchment inflows.
Continuous heavy rainfall in upstream areas, including parts of neighbouring Chhattisgarh, has pushed the reservoir level close to its upper limits, forcing step-by-step increases in gate operations over the past 24 hours.
With immense volumes of water gushing into the reservoir, dam engineers have progressively raised the number of operational sluice gates to safely pass the excess water downstream.
Telemetry data indicates that substantial water is being steadily released through both the spillway channels and power generation units.
The heightened discharge has triggered a marked rise in the water levels of the Mahanadi River and its distributaries, prompting the state administration to issue comprehensive flood advisories.
District administrations and local authorities across vulnerable districts have been placed on high alert. Residents residing in low-lying areas and active floodplains have been strictly advised to remain vigilant, closely monitor local river conditions, and cooperate with safety directives as officials continue round-the-clock monitoring of the evolving weather and water scenario.
