The Odisha government has announced that around 5.5 lakh cusecs of floodwater is expected to flow into the Mahanadi river at Mundali near Cuttack, on Sunday.
This surge in the inflow of water follows several days of heavy rainfall in both the upstream and downstream regions of the river, caused by a low-pressure system.
According to Chandrasekhar Padhi, the Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department, torrential rainfall for four consecutive days due to the low-pressure in the upstream and downstream of the Mahanadi has swelled the water level.
“We expect that 5.5 lakh cusec flood water will flow into the river near Mundali on Sunday evening. Therefore, the department has intensified patrolling on river embankments of Mahanadi and its tributaries. The district collectors concerned have also been alerted,” Padhi said.
Padhi stated that while the department does not expect the floodwater to cause harm to human settlements, some low-lying areas might experience water-logging from seepage.
Another official from the department confirmed that all necessary precautions are being taken to prevent any breaches in the river embankments within the Mahanadi delta region, which includes the vulnerable districts of Cuttack, Kendrapara, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur.
The official also noted that excess water is being discharged from the Hirakud Dam through 20 gates. The reservoir’s current water level is 626.53 feet, just below the maximum capacity of 630 feet.
Padhi said the water level in all other rivers, except Jalaka in Balasore district, remained below the danger mark.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the intensity of rainfall has decreased across Odisha, with light to moderate rain still possible in some areas until September 10.
