Mahanadi river system in Odisha under threat of high flood

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 6:

By all accounts, high flood in the Mahanadi river system in Odisha is imminent.

By midnight the Mundali barrage is expected to release 12 lakh cusec of floodwater, something that threatens to cause breaches in embankments and widespread inundation downstream.

According to official sources 9.94 lakh people in 1553 villages across 23 districts in the state have been affected in  the current flood, while nearly 400 villagesin Bhadrak and Jajpur districts have been the worst hit.

Around 2,42,000 people have been marooned.

Nearly 1, 40,000 people have been moved to safer places.

The water level at the Hirakud Dam had touched  628.21 feet when reports last came in.

The inflow of floodwater into the dam was  8.32 lakh cusec while 8.34 lakh cusec was being released through 50 open sluice gates till 11.30 pm.

The Union Home Ministry will be sending two choppers to help relief and rescue operations, sources said, adding, 11 NDRF,  30 ODRAF teams and 184 boats have already been pressed into service for relief and rescue operation.

Collectors of 13 districts have been put on high alert and leave option for all government employees in these districts has been cancelled