Bhubaneswar, Jul 31 (PTI) Odisha remained on high alert as authorities braced for a “medium” flood in the Mahanadi river system across the densely populated coastal belt, officials said.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Thursday said around 9 lakh cusec water was flowing at Mundali near Cuttack, which could cause flood in the districts of Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara.
“There are reports of flood water entering Athagarh and Badamba area of Cuttack, and the district collector has been asked to initiate evacuation and deployment of rescue teams,” Pujari said.
Water Resources Department engineer-in-chief Dillip Kumar Rout said the next 36 hours would be crucial, as the Mahanadi was expected to witness peak flood discharge.
Flow of more than 8 lakh cusec water is considered a “medium flood” in the Mahanadi river system, Rout said.
Three persons have so far died in flood-related incidents, Pujari said.
Rout said personnel had been deployed in vulnerable areas to protect embankments along the Mahanadi and its tributaries in Khurda, Puri, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts.
Rout, however, said the Mundali barrage has handled a discharge of 10-12 lakh cusec in the past.
With the discharge at Mundali expected to cross 9 lakh cusec by Thursday evening, floodwaters are likely to spread across the Mahanadi and its tributaries, including the Luna, Karandia, Chitrotpala, Paika, Salia, Devi, Kandala, Kuakhai, Kushabhadra, Daya and Bhargavi rivers, the officials said.
“The priority is to ensure there is no breach in embankments and zero human casualties. Waterlogging in low-lying areas remains a concern. Experienced officials who have handled flood emergencies in the past have been deployed in vulnerable districts,” Rout said.
“Now that the situation is stabilising in the north Odisha rivers, our focus is on the Mahanadi river system, which has a large number of tributaries,” he said, adding that surveillance of embankments, evacuation preparedness and relief arrangements had been intensified.
The flood situation in the Mahanadi has been aggravated as rainwater from the Tel, Ib and Jira rivers continued to add to its flow, the officials said.
The water level at the Hirakud Dam has already crossed 620 feet against its full reservoir level of 630 feet, they said.
The flood water is released downstream through two gates, and additional gates might have to be opened if the water level continues to rise, they said.
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Pati placed collectors of districts in the Mahanadi delta region on high alert and cancelled the leave of government employees in the area.
Pujari, who along with senior officials undertook an aerial survey of the affected northern districts, said the recent flood has impacted over 7 lakh people spread across 20 of the state’s 30 districts.
Around 1.90 lakh people were evacuated to safety and sheltered in 520 relief camps.
As many as 21 villages still remain marooned in Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts, with damage reported to 1,352 houses, the minister said.
“We have asked the officials concerned to submit damage assessment reports,” Pujari said.
Altogether 123 rescue teams of the NDRF, ODRAF and fire services have been deployed in various districts, Pati said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who is in Delhi, said he had directed all district collectors to remain on high alert and ensure timely assistance to affected people.
“I appeal to all not to panic over the flood situation. The safety and security of citizens is the priority of the state government,” he said. PTI AAM MNB RBT NSD
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