Continuous rainfall in the upper catchment of the Mahanadi has raised concerns of a moderate flood in the river basin, according to Chief Engineer Dillip Rout of the Water Resources Department.
Rout said that two gates of Hirakud Dam are currently open, with the reservoir level at 616 feet against its full capacity of 630 feet. Due to heavy rainfall in the downstream areas, no additional gates will be opened for now.
By Thursday evening, the Mundali barrage is expected to record a maximum flow of nine lakh cusecs, indicating a moderate flood situation. While a major flood is unlikely, low‑lying and riverbank areas may experience inundation and temporary disruption of connectivity.
Officials have taken all precautionary measures to manage the situation. In the past 24 hours, Bijepur in Baragada district recorded the highest rainfall at 314 mm, with showers continuing across western Odisha.
Rainfall is expected to decrease in northern Odisha but intensify in southern and western regions. Tributaries such as Tel and Sukhtel rivers are discharging floodwaters into the Mahanadi, contributing to the rising levels.
Authorities have assured that no more than 10 lakh cusecs will be released at Naraj under any circumstances, ensuring controlled management of the river system.
