Bhubaneswar: Hirakud Dam in Odisha's Sambalpur district registered a significant rise in water inflow today as all 66 gates of Kalma Barrage in Chhattisgarh were opened.

The gates were opened in view of the heavy rainfall in the upper catchment.

With the spike in the inflow, the water level in the Hirakud reservoir is likely to rise as well.

At 12 noon, the water level of the dam was 603.67 feet against full capacity of 630 feet with inflow of 79,262 cusec and outflow of 29,772 cusec.

In the case of continuation of heavy rainfall in the upper catchment, the Hirakud Dam may release the first flood water of the year soon, sources said.