Sambalpur: In view of increase in water level at Hirakud dam following incessant rain in upper catchment areas of Mahanadi River, the authorities have opened 20 gates to discharge excess floodwater from the reservoir.

Currently, the water level at Hirakud reservoir stands at 630 ft against total storage capacity. The inflow and outflow of water recorded 3,12,628 cusec in the morning.

Meanwhile, water level is rising at other points of Mahanadi River in Odisha. The down stream flow at Patharla was 48,381 cusec (rising), Khairmal recorded 3.80 lakh cusec water (rising), Barmul 3,26,875 cusec and Mundali 2,96,137 cusec.