Sambalpur, July 9 (UDN): The Hirakud Dam in Odisha’s Sambalpur district released the first floodwaters of the season on Thursday after four sluice gates were opened at 11:00 am as the reservoir water level crossed the safety mark.
Three gates on the left side and one gate on the right side were opened to regulate the rising water level. Authorities have indicated that more gates may be opened if required, with the possibility of releasing up to 1 lakh cusecs of water in a phased manner.
The water release is expected to increase the flow of the Mahanadi River in downstream areas. Since the river passes through more than 10 districts, local administrations have issued alerts and advised people living in low-lying areas to remain cautious.
As a safety measure, the district administration has declared the Hirakud dam area and surrounding zones a no-flying zone, restricting the use of aircraft and drones without prior permission.
Ahead of the water release, a high-level meeting was held in Sambalpur under the chairmanship of the Central Water Commission to discuss flood management measures and coordination between Odisha and Chhattisgarh authorities. Officials reviewed reservoir management, water-level monitoring, and the sharing of inflow and discharge data to ensure effective flood control.
Authorities continue to closely monitor the situation and are taking necessary steps to manage water flow and safeguard communities along the Mahanadi basin.
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