July 29th 2024.
In the city of Bhubaneswar, the Hirakud dam has released its first floodwater of the season into the downstream of the Mahanadi river. However, Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty reassured the public that there is no cause for concern regarding potential flooding. The current water level of the dam is at 617.77 feet as of 2pm, which is below its full reservoir capacity of 630 feet. The inflow of water into the reservoir is at 2.79 lakh cusec, while the outflow is at 2.50 lakh cusec. According to an official report, the water level of the dam is steadily rising.
In an official release, the state government announced that due to the opening of 20 gates, the Khairmal discharge will reach approximately 4.50 lakh cusecs by 8am on July 29, while the Mundali discharge will increase to around 5 lakh cusecs by 11am on July 30. In light of this, the government has instructed Collectors of Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Nayagarh, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara to advise residents of downstream areas to avoid entering the Mahanadi river and to keep their domestic animals away from grazing near the river. The Collectors have also been asked to closely monitor the situation and remain vigilant.
In addition, the Special Relief Commissioner has issued a letter to the Collectors, stating that senior officers will be stationed at the District Emergency Operation Centre. Meanwhile, the water level of Baitarani, another major river in the state, has also been observed to be increasing. It is currently flowing at a level of 17.40 meters at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district, which is below the warning level of 17.83 meters and the danger level of 18.33 meters.
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