The districts of Mayurbhanj and Balasore received heavy to very heavy rainfall under the influence of the deep depression, informed Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Pradeep Jena on Saturday.
Addressing a presser here in Bhubaneswar, Jena said three blocks of Balasore received more than 200mm rainfall with Bhograi receiving highest 226mm rainfall. Similarly, 16 blocks of Mayurbhanj district received more than 100mm rainfall followed by 100-50mm rainfall in five blocks of Keonjhar district.
Heavy rainfall also reportedly pounded Jharkhand following which seven gates of Galudih barrage were opened. Currently, 1.50L cusec water is being released through the barrage.
The water may reach Odisha, but there is no fear of flood-like situation in Budhabalanga, the Special Relief Commissioner said.
“As I had informed earlier, water level in Hirakud will be brought below 622ft before today noon, now it is at 621.93 ft. Efforts are on to bring it down to 620.5 ft by tomorrow morning. So, we have directed to close four more gates in the dam. Now, out of the 24 gates, four will be closed and 20 gates will remain open,” the SRC stated adding that the inflow into Hirakud Dam has also come down to about 3.23 cusec against the outflow of 4.10 lakh cusec.
“There is a heavy rainfall activity in the lower catchment area of Hirakud. We are on alert mode and taking stock of the situation. There is no fear of flood-like situation in Budhabalanga,” the SRC said.
“Four people have lost their lives in wall collapse. Two died in Mayurbhanj, one in Balasore and the fourth death due to wall collapse has been reported from Keonjhar,” the SRC further stated.
Earlier, the SRC had informed the media that flood water level had started receding in several districts and people were returning to their homes. The administrations continued to provide cooked food, dry food packets and drinking water bottles in parts of Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Kendrapara and other districts.