Heavy rainfall across the Upper Mahanadi Basin has triggered a significant rise in water levels, prompting authorities to open 28 sluice gates at the Hirakud Dam to safely regulate the incoming surge and mitigate flood risks downstream.
The hydrological strain follows the landfall of a Deep Depression between the night of Sept 23 and 24, which subsequently tracked toward Chhattisgarh. The Upper Mahanadi Basin recorded substantial rainfall over the weekend, averaging 39.14 mm on September 25 and spiking to 71.66 mm on Sept 26.
The widespread downpour accelerated inflows into key tributaries of the Mahanadi river system, including the Seonath and Jonk rivers. Upstream in Chhattisgarh, heavy catchment rain forced the Ravishankar Sagar (Gangrel Dam) to release approximately 2.50 lakh cusecs of water into the downstream basin, further escalating water discharge rates.
To create a critical flood cushion within the Hirakud Reservoir, authorities initially opened 20 gates on Sept 26. However, as water levels surged at the Seorinarayan and Saradih gauge sites—with discharge at Saradih exceeding 7 lakh cusecs—an additional 8 gates were opened to handle the volume.
Currently, 28 gates remain operational, discharging 4,56,792 cusecs of water into the river. The reservoir’s water level stands at 628.35 feet.
Officials emphasized that gate operations are being calibrated to balance structural safety with flood management. The primary objectives remain stabilizing reservoir levels and minimizing potential inundation across the vulnerable downstream delta region.
The Water Resources Department has put field-level engineers and officers on high alert, maintaining round-the-clock surveillance over water levels, inflows, and key gauge sites.
Departmental teams are continuously adjusting discharge rates at dams and barrages as the hydrological situation evolves, keeping public safety and flood mitigation as top priorities.
