Koraput: Heavy rainfall continued to lash several parts of Koraput district today swelling up major rivers and flooding reservoirs in the region.
According to sources, the water level in major reservoirs- Upper Kolab, Machkund dam and Jalaput is on a rise due to incessant rain in the upper catchment areas of the rivers.
The first sluice gate of the Upper Kolab dam was opened today after the water level crossed the danger mark of 858 m. The chief engineer of the reservoir informed about the matter to the authorities of Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts.
People staying in low lying areas have been urged to stay away from river banks.
As per reports, the water level was at 2750 cubic feet which is near the danger level of 2748 cubic feet in Jalaput dam while in Machkund reservoir the water level was at 2588 cubic feet against the danger mark of 2790 cubic feet. About 8,600 cusec of water is being released through as many as five sluice gates of the dam.
Meanwhile, the regional meteorological department today informed that in view of a low pressure area over the north-western Bay of Bengal, adjoining north-coastal Odisha and West Bengal coast, several parts of the State will continue to receive heavy rainfall for the next 48 hours.
Meteorologist Sudarsan Mishra said while extreme heavy rainfall is likely to be witnessed at one or two places of Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Ganjam, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Deogarh districts in next 24 hours, some north and south parts of the State may experience heavy rainfall.
As of now, monsoon rainfall record shows that Odisha has received an excess of 10 percent rainfall this season. While the State on an average receives rainfall of 855.7 mm, till now it has registered 945.2 mm, which is 10 per cent extra, said Mishra.