Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked officers Tuesday to ensure ‘zero casualty’ as Odisha faces flooding in the Mahanadi river system with a number of villages in eight districts already inundated, officials said. The next 48 to 72 hours are critical for the Mahanadi delta region as Odisha faces the first flood of the season, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena told reporters. The flood has been triggered by heavy rainfall in the catchment areas due to the week-long low pressure and depression, officials informed.
“The flood situation in the Mahanadi river system is grim. The next 48 to 72 hours are critical for Odisha as about 12 lakh cusec flood water will flow at Mundali barrage near Cuttack and the water level in other connecting rivers will remain at about 10 lakh cusec,” Jena said after Naveen Patnaik reviewed the situation. “The water level in different gauge points will, however, fall after the peak situation passes in the next 48 hours,” Jena added.
The SRC said that efforts are on to maintain maximum water level within 12 lakh cusec in order to keep it within a medium flood range. The administration had Monday closed eight more gates at Hirakud dam for the purpose.
“Now as the water level is increasing in the Hirakud reservoir, the decision on opening more gates will be taken after a review in Tuesday afternoon,” Jena said in reply to a question.
The flood situation in the Mahanadi river system turned grim after the water level in the Hirakud reservoir crossed 626 feet against the full level of 630 feet by 12 noon, Jena stated.
“While above 7.88 lakh cusec water is entering the Hirakud reservoir, about 4.45 lakh cusec is being discharged from the dam through 26 gates. As expected above 11.7 lakh cusec of flood water is passing through Mundali barrage near Cuttack making the flood situation grim downstream, particularly in the Mahanadi delta region,” Jena pointed out.
The SRC said that the water of Tel river, which flows into the Mahanadi will now decrease and be within 3.5 lakh cusec as against the earlier estimation of 5.5 lakh cusec as there has been no rainfall in the Indravati river basin in the last 24 hours. “This may help in opening more gates of the Hirakud dam,” informed Jena.
The flood backwater has entered villages, agricultural fields and is flowing over different bridges in the districts of Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Boudh, Cuttack, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Puri districts.
There is a major breach on Mahanadi river embankment is coastal Jagatsinghpur district and several on embankments of small rivers. “The officials of the Water Resources department are busy closing the embankments on a war footing,” the SRC said.
Patnaik reviewed the flood situation and asked officials to ensure ‘zero casualty’ in the calamity, besides immediate repair of roads and communication channels affected by the flood, Jena said. “The chief minister has said that every life is precious for the state and all efforts should be made to ensure that not a single life is lost in the calamity,” the SRC informed.
While putting collectors of 10 districts on high alert, Patnaik directed evacuation of people living in low laying areas and from places inundated by the flood water. He also asked the chief secretary and SRC to ensure that the rescue and relief teams remain at the affected and vulnerable areas.
Nine teams each of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed in vulnerable places, while 44 teams of the fire service have been engaged in relief and rescue operation.