Baitarani River Faces Third Flood in Three Months; Hirakud Dam Opens 14 Gates

Bhubaneswar: The Baitarani River in Odisha has witnessed its third flood in the past three months, according to the Water Resources Department’s Chief Engineer, Chandra Shekhar Padhee.

Padhee stated that heavy rainfall has caused a rise in water levels across several rivers, including the Subarnarekha, upper Mahanadi, Baitarani, and Budhabalanga. The Baitarani River is currently flowing 0.5 meters above the danger mark at Akhuapada, resulting in a minor flood.

To manage the situation, the Hirakud Dam has opened 14 gates to release excess water. “The dam currently has an inflow of 2.15 lakh cusecs and a discharge of 1.33 lakh cusecs. The water level is expected to rise further, and decisions regarding the opening of additional gates will be taken based on ongoing assessments,” Padhee added.

He also clarified that while the Mahanadi River’s water level is expected to rise, it is not anticipated to cause flooding. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to mitigate the impact of the floods.