Authorities opened two gates of the Indravati Reservoir in Nabarangpur district on Saturday as a precautionary measure ahead of a possible cyclone and heavy rainfall. Gates No. 3 and 6 were opened, releasing water at a rate of 133 cusecs.
The reservoir’s water level stood at 640.9 metres against its full reservoir level (FRL) of 642 metres. Officials said the decision was taken in view of the developing weather system over the Bay of Bengal, which the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast to intensify into a cyclonic storm and approach the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast around October 28.
The Indravati Reservoir, part of a major multipurpose project that supports power generation and irrigation in the region, has seen gate openings earlier this monsoon season during periods of heavy rain. Downstream areas along the Indravati river have been put on alert, with the district administration monitoring water levels and inflow closely.
Odisha has already placed several southern and coastal districts on high alert. Schools and colleges in select districts bordering Andhra Pradesh are scheduled to remain closed on October 28 and 29, while disaster response teams have been kept on standby.
