Mahanadi floodwater released from Hirakud dam in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, July 24:

The first floodwater of Mahanadi river was released from the Hirakud dam at Burla in Odisha’s Sambalpur district this morning.

According to reports, the dam authorities, after performing traditional rituals, opened sluice gate no-7 following which four other gates were opened.

Sources in the dam said that the authorities would open 12 gates of the dam today, in phases, which would release 1,80,000 cusecs of floodwater.

Meanwhile, water level in the reservoir has touched 619 feet by 9 am today.

The maximum capacity of the reservoir is 630 feet.

About 5,59,941 cusecs of floodwater is entering the reservoir, the dam authorities said, adding, there is no flood threat in lower catchments due to the release of the floodwater.