TV
Incessant rainfall over the past several days has triggered flood-like conditions across parts of western Odisha, with Jharsuguda district among the worst affected.
The region’s famed Koilighughar Shaivite shrine, located in Lakhanpur block, has been submerged after floodwaters from a nearby stream overflowed into the temple premises.
Officials confirmed that water from the Ahira canal, a stream flowing from the Hemgir area in neighbouring Sundargarh district, surged into the temple compound, inundating not only the outer areas but also the inner sanctum of the centuries-old Shiva temple.
Rainfall Paralyses Daily Life, Temple Premises Inundated
As of this morning, sources reported that the Koilighughar shrine has been rendered completely inaccessible due to the floodwaters. The force of the flow has reached up to the base of the temple’s rock platform, disrupting rituals and cutting off approach paths to the sanctum.
The heavy downpour over Lakhanpur and the surrounding areas also caused widespread waterlogging and made local transportation difficult. Multiple low-lying areas in Jharsuguda are now reportedly under water, with the district administration monitoring the situation closely.
Sources cited local residents, who said this was the first time in recent memory that floodwaters had entered the Koilighughar temple itself.
Amid this flood-like situation, no injuries have been reported so far, but authorities are urging pilgrims and villagers to avoid visiting flood-prone areas until the water recedes.
Upstream Water Release from Hirakud May Add Pressure
Adding to concerns, authorities at the Hirakud Dam began releasing floodwater on Sunday morning, marking the first controlled discharge of the season. At 10 am, sluice gate number 7 on the dam’s left spillway was opened after customary rituals and inspection.
According to the dam control room, flood discharge will take place in stages, with up to 12 gates to be opened depending on inflow volume and the current reservoir level.
While the Bheden and Ong river systems absorb much of this release, hydrological spillover could increase pressure on already inundated areas downstream, including parts of Jharsuguda and Bargarh.
