Odisha Not Facing Flood Situation Yet; Sapua River Sees Highest Flash Flood in 50 Years

Bhubaneswar: Even as continuous monsoon rains continue to lash Odisha, the state is not witnessing an overall flood situation, the Water Resources Department said on Friday. However, officials noted that the recent flash flood in the Sapua River has crossed levels not seen in the last five decades.

According to the Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) of the department, the water level in the Sapua River has begun to recede after a sharp surge caused by intense rainfall. The flash flood has impacted low-lying areas in parts of Dhenkanal and Athgarh, where local authorities remain on alert.

The department said the river level at Akhuapada is currently at the alert level, while the water level at Mathani in Balasore district is approaching the danger mark. Officials are keeping a close watch on river conditions and are prepared to respond if the situation worsens.

On the reservoir front, authorities confirmed that all gates of the Hirakud Dam remain closed, indicating that there is no immediate need for downstream water release. However, one gate of the Salandi Barrage has been opened to regulate the increasing inflow.

Officials expect nearly 70,000 cusecs of water to enter the Hirakud reservoir on Saturday. In addition, around 3 lakh cusecs of water is likely to reach the Mundali barrage by evening, prompting continuous monitoring of river flows and downstream areas.

The department also highlighted that Odisha has received above-normal rainfall during the current monsoon season. Against the normal cumulative rainfall of 391 mm, the state has so far recorded 454 mm—around 17 per cent higher than average.

Among all districts, Balangir has received the highest rainfall this season. Despite the heavy precipitation across several regions, the Water Resources Department maintained that the overall flood situation in Odisha remains under control.