Odisha’s Rengali dam releases first floodwater of season, 5 districts alerted

The Rengali Dam authorities on Saturday released the season’s first floodwater through one gate following a steady rise in the Brahmani river’s water level due to consistent upstream rainfall.

According to official sources, the reservoir level reached 121 metre by 6 PM on Saturday, against its full storage capacity of 123.50 metre. With an inflow of 2,489 cubic metre per second, a discharge of nearly 1,900 cubic metre per second is being carried out through the power channel and the open gate.

A senior engineer from the Water Resources Department said that if the inflow continues to rise, another gate may be opened. However, he clarified that there is currently no risk of flooding in downstream areas.

To ensure preparedness, the department has held consultations with the district administrations of Dhenkanal, Kendrapara, Angul, Jajpur, and Cuttack. These districts could potentially be impacted if the discharge increases.

The released water is being monitored closely, and officials are on alert. “We are assessing inflow patterns and will take appropriate action as needed,” said Hrudananda Mallick, chief engineer of the dam.

“We have opened one gate of the dam and are following the standard operating procedure (SOP). Announcements were made in downstream villages, and a siren was sounded two hours before the release of water. The Collectors of Kendrapara, Jajpur, Angul, and Dhenkanal districts have been informed,” said Mallick.

Meanwhile, all designated flood control teams remain on standby, and local authorities have been advised to stay vigilant.