Flood Threat Looms Over Mahanadi Basin; Low-Lying Areas in 4 Odisha Districts on Alert

Bureau,Odishabarta

Kataka:A flood situation is developing in the Mahanadi river system, with low-lying areas of Khordha, Kataka, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts likely to be affected over the next 24 hours, Odisha Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout said on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, Rout said around 7 lakh cusecs of water is expected to pass through Mundali by Sunday night, with the discharge likely to increase to 8 lakh cusecs by 10 am on Monday.

“The department is making all efforts to ensure that the flow at Mundali does not exceed 8 lakh cusecs under any circumstances,” he said.

Several rivers in the Mahanadi delta are expected to witness flood conditions, including the Luna, Karandia, Chitrotpala, Kathajodi and Kuakhai. Rising water levels are also likely in the Devi, Kandala, Kushabhadra, Daya, Bhargavi, Rajua and Makara rivers.

Rout said low-lying pockets of Khordha, Kataka, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts are vulnerable to inundation. In Kendrapada district, Patkura and Garadpur blocks may also be affected.

Among the areas facing a higher flood risk are Kanas, Brahmagiri, Gop, Ersama and Balikuda. Banki, Athagarh and Badamba may also witness inundation as water levels continue to rise.