BHUBANESWAR: With heavy downpour in upper catchment of river Mahanadi, flood situation in Orissa turned grim today as 53 sluice gates of Hirakud dam were opened to discahrge water while death toll due to floods rose to two.As about 10 lakh cusec of water flowed into Hirakud dam, water level touched 627.5 feet as against the reservoir level of 630 ft. "The reservoir can sustain maximum 629 feet water. If required, more gates will be opened," Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra told reporters.While 36 of the 64 sluice gates were dischraging water from Hirakud dam yesterday, the authorities today opened 17 more gates due to excess inflow from Chhattishgarh, he said.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the flood scenario and directed all departments to tackle the impending situation. The government was apprehending a severe flood this time in Mahanadi delta area comprising four districts of Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur."Besides these four, districts like Nayagarh, Puri, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Boudh could also be affected due to the flood in Mahanadi river system," Mohapatra said adding about 13 lakh cusec of water was expected to flow through Mundali near Cuttack where river the bifurcated.Mohapatra, however, pointed out that 15.5 lakh cusec of water had flown through Mundali in 2008 flood. "The 2008 flood had left a trail of destruction. About 500 breaches on river and canal embankments were reported in 2008," a senior official in water resources department said. Mohapatra said since the flood water released from Hirakud yesterday would reach Mundali tomorrow, the "next two days are very critical for the state."About 500 weak points have been identified on river banks and embankments, of which 28 are highly vulnerable to breach. Senior engineers and experts along with police force have been sent there to keep a constant vigil.Meanwhile, death toll due to flood rose to two with a fresh casualty in Aul area of Kendrapara district. "A six-year-old girl identified as Chuni Das was swept away in river Baitarani," said Kendrapara Collector P K Patnaik.District authorities of Sambalpur, Bolangir, Sonepur, Boudh, Nayagarh, Angul, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Khurda have been asked to be on guard.Revenue and Disaster Management Minister S N Patro said instruction was given to keep country boats/mechanised boats, dry food, kerosene, flash light, satellite phones, candles, matchboxes and other essentials ready.Meanwhile, flood situation in Subarnarekha and Baitarani rivers improved with water receding. Over 1.5 lakh people were affected as these rivers submerged 150 villages in Balasore, Kendrapara and Jajpur districts.
Comments
0 comment