Odisha CM Majhi surveys rain-hit Ganjam, Koraput districts

Odisha faces a fresh flood threat as seven lakh cusecs of water is expected to reach Mundali near Cuttack, potentially inundating several districts. Over 70,000 people have been shifted to relief camps as heavy rain affects 13 districts

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday conducted an aerial survey of rain-hit areas in Ganjam and Koraput districts as rivers remained in spate following heavy rain that has affected 13 districts, prompting authorities to shift people from vulnerable areas to safety.

The Hirakud Dam opened two more sluice gates on Sunday to discharge additional water entering the reservoir. With this, excess water was being released through 24 gates. The water level in the reservoir stood at 628.29 feet against the full reservoir level of 630 feet.

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Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department Dilip Kumar Rout said around seven lakh cusecs of water would flow down the Mahanadi and reach Mundali near Cuttack on Sunday night. The flow could increase to eight lakh cusecs by Monday morning, he said.

The increased flow could swell several tributaries of the Mahanadi and inundate parts of Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts, Rout said.

By Saturday, the state government had shifted more than 70,000 people from low-lying areas to 395 relief camps as several villages were inundated.

“Several areas of Banki, Athagarh and Badamba in Cuttack district will be inundated today,” Rout said, adding that low-lying areas in Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts could also be affected.

Majhi conducted the aerial survey of Ganjam and Koraput along with Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari and Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil. They later landed at Jeypore in Koraput district and held a review meeting.

Officials said the Chief Minister was likely to travel by boat to inspect affected villages in Nabarangpur district. Majhi’s aerial survey was delayed by around two hours due to a technical snag in the helicopter, sources said.

The recent deep depression over the Bay of Bengal brought heavy rainfall and flooding to 13 districts — Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Bolangir and Jagatsinghpur.

Balasore was among the worst-hit districts, with three major rivers flowing above their danger levels.

The Subarnarekha River was flowing at 11.68 metres at Jaleswar’s Rajghat at 6 am, against the danger level of 10.36 metres. This led to flooding in villages in Bhograi, Jaleswar, Baliapal and Basta blocks, officials said.

The Budhabalang was also flowing above the danger level, while smaller rivers such as Kansabansa, Soa and Gangahar remained in spate in Balasore.

In Mayurbhanj, authorities of Similipal National Park announced the temporary closure of the tourist destination at Devkund after several streams and water channels swelled significantly, an official said.

Jajpur and Bhadrak districts also reported severe flooding.