First flood waters released from Hirakud dam in Odisha

Sambalpur: Season’s first flood waters during monsoon were released from Hirakud dam, Asia’s longest earthen dam, in Sambalpur district in Odisha this morning.

The flood waters were released through gate number 7 of the dam at around 10.50 am following ceremonial puja.

One more sluice gate will be opened today to release the flood waters into the lower basin of Mahanadi River, said Harmohan Pradhan, Chief Engineer of Hirakud dam project.

There is no threat of floods as the downstream of Mahanadi River is dry. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was followed before releasing the flood waters through the dam gate, he added.

Later, the flood waters were released through gate number 2.

With opening of two gates, 30,000 cusecs of flood waters per second is being released into the lower basins of Mahanadi. The water level of Hirakud was recorded at 607.60 ft with an inflow of 97,320 cusecs per second by 11 am.