Sambalpur: Incessant rains in the upstream forced the Hirakud dam authorities to open two more sluice gates to release excess water from the reservoir on Monday afternoon. Total six gates were opened today the authorities had opened four sluice gates in the morning due to heavy rains.
The district administration alerted the people of Hirakud, Sambalpur and Burla area through loud speaker before opening of the gates.
The Dam authorities have kept a close watch on the situations. If needed, more gates will be opened in phase manner to release the excess water. As of now, there is no possibility of flood in the downstream, they added.
There are 64 sluice gates including 24 on the right and 40 on the left side of the dam to release flood water. Each sluice gate has the capacity to discharge 16,440 cusec of water when reservoir level, also termed as danger level, is 630 ft.
This apart, there are 34 crest gates, 13 on the right and 21 on left side, which have the potential to discharge 16,238 cusec of water.
