Odisha floods: Districts on Mahanadi basin alerted; 6 IAS officers deputed

Bhubaneswar: As flood threat looms large over several districts in Odisha with water level of Mahanadi river continuing to rise following incessant rain in the last couple of days, Odisha Government today deputed six senior IAS officials to oversee flood management in six districts.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today deputed senior IAS officers Hemant Sharma for Kendrapada, DK Singh for Cuttack, Vishal Dev for Balasore,  BP Sethi for Badhrak, VV Yadav fo Jajpur and  Satyabrata Sahu for Jagatsinghpur district.

Meanwhile, Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) Jyotirmaya Rath informed that authorities of Hirakud dam have opened  total 44 sluice gates to discharge floodwater. Mainly districts on Mahanadi river basin including Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Boudh, Nayagarh and Sonepur are expected to be hit by flood. Collectors of all the districts have been directed to remain alert and take necessary measures to tackle any kind of eventuality, he inormed.

“Floodwater is currently being released through 44 sluice gates at Hirakud dam. Around 10 lakh cusec floodwater released from the reservoir to Mahanadi river will reach Mundali barrage by 5 AM tomorrow. Besides, Baitarani river is flowing above the danger level at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district. However, water level of other major rivers are decreasing,” said the EIC.

Total 26 embankments have breached due to flood with highest breaches occurred in Bari block of  Jajpur district. Besides, 48 more weak embankments have been kept under close watch. Night patrolling is being done by engineers of Water Resources Department, he added.