Flood situation may worsen in Odisha as more rainfall predicted

Bhubaneswar: The flood situation in Odisha may worsen as the heavy to very heavy rainfall is in the forecast in upper area of Mahanadi River basin for the next 24 hours.

According to Bhubaneswar MeT Office, heavy to very heavy rain may take place in upper catchment of Mahanadi River in Chhattisgarh and western Odisha districts in the next 24 hours.

A few districts in western part of Odisha may receive heavy rainfall till August 28. The heavy rainfall likely to occur in one or two places over the districts of Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Nuapada, Balangir and Nabarangpur in the next 24 hours, said Bhubaneswar MeT Director HR Biswas today.

Amidst five major rivers such as Brahmani, Baitarani Budhabalanga, Jalaka and Subarnarekha have swollen up in Odisha due to incessant rain under impact of a series of low pressures over the Bay of Bengal, the possible rainfall in upper catchment of Mahanadi River is likely to trigger flood like situation in Mahanadi River system in upcoming days.

Currently, floodwater is being discharged from the Hirakud dam through 16 sluice gates and the water level at the reservoir stands at 621.56ft. The dam registers water inflow of 5.24 lakh cusec and outflow of 2.48 lakh cusec.

Meanwhile, the well-mark low pressure area has moved to southwest Jharkhand and its neighbourhood. This may not trigger intense rainfall in Odisha.

After 24 hours, the rainfall activity may decline gradually in Odisha, Biswas said.

The MeT issued no heavy rain warning for Odisha from August 28 till August 31.

“Light to moderate rainfall likely to occur in a few places in interior and coastal Odisha districts from August 28 to 31,” he said.

Under influence of the low pressure, the wind speed may exceed upto 40-50kmph in the sea. Therefore, the fishermen have asked not to venture into the sea in the next 24 hours.

The sky will remain cloudy in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack city areas. The weatherman said that there will be no more rainfall activity in the twin city during the period.