Odisha’s Hirakud dam opens 4 sluice gates to release excess water amid heavy rainfall 

Hirakud dam in Sambalpur on Saturday opened its four sluice gates to regulate the rising water level following heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas.

According to officials, three gates on the left side and one gate on the right side of the dam were opened in the first phase of discharge. With continuous rainfall in the upstream regions, the inflow into the reservoir has been steadily increasing, prompting the measure.

The district administration has issued an advisory, cautioning people not to venture into the Mahanadi river as water flow is expected to intensify downstream. Villagers living along the river banks have also been alerted to remain vigilant.

According to sources, the water level of the reservoir breached 620.10 ft following incessant rain in the upper catchment area, prompting the authorities to open the sluice gates. The highest water holding capacity of the dam is 630 ft.

At the time of the filing of the report, the present inflow into the Hirakud dam stands at 2,52,455 cusec per second, while the outflow is 31,500 cusec per second.  

Meanwhile, the IMD has predicted heavy to heavy rainfall in Odisha till August 27 under the influence of a fresh low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal.

According to the weather office, the system is expected to move northwestwards towards Jharkhand during the next 24 hours, bringing widespread rainfall to several districts of Odisha.