Swollen Mahanadi creates flood scare

BHUBANESWAR: With Hirakud feeding more and more water into Mahanadi, threat of flood loomed large in coastal Orissa. By Friday, a moderate flood is expected in the Mahanadi river system, which is likely to submerge low-lying areas in the deltaic region.State Revenue department sources said at least 11 lakh cusec water is expected to pass through Munduli by Friday noon which is likely to flood the downstream. Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Nayagarh will face flood fury while Boudh, Balangir, Nuapada and Sambalpur will also be affected.“All the districts located along the  Mahanadi and its tributaries have already been put on alert. The administration has been asked to evacuate people from low-lying areas if need arises,” official sources said.  Information available from Hirakud Dam office said at least 36 sluice gates have been opened to release water entering into the reservoir from upstream Chhattisgarh. By Wednesday evening, 5.64 lakh cusec water was passing through Munduli. At Khairmal and Baramul, the flow was 6.86 lakh and 6.40 lakh cusec respectively.“Currently, 5.13 lakh cusec is flowing into the reservoir, while the outflow was much higher at 6.12 lakh cusec. The rains upstream have induced more water into Hirakud leading to a situation wherein a moderate flood is imminent unless water flow declines,” said an official. The water level of the reservoir stood at 626.29 feet against the full reservoir level of 630 feet. By Thursday afternoon, 9 lakh cusec water is expected to flow in Munduli, which will rise to 11 lakh cusec within the next 24 hours. In 2008, Munduli saw passage of 16 lakh cusec water leading to serious flood downstream of Mahanadi. While Mahanadi was swelling, heavy rains in the catchment areas such as Sonepur and Nuapada were feeding the river more by the hour. Nuapada had recorded 136 mm rain in the last 24 hours.  “We will be watching the scenario carefully all through the night. If more rains occur upstream, we may have to open more gates or else we could close a few to control the outflow,” said a dam official. While northern Orissa districts such as Balasore and Mayurbhanj are reeling under flash floods, more rains over the next few days could trigger a disaster for the deltaic zone.  Meanwhile, the Met department said rain and thundershowers are expected at most places of coastal as well as interior Orissa during the next 24 hours. The low pressure, which had moved towards Jharkhand and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal, will trigger more showers. Heavy rains are expected at some places over interior as well as coastal Orissa during the next two days.