Orissa alerts Army, gears up to face high floods

Bhubaneswar, Sep 19 (UNI) The Orissa government today alerted the army and geared up its administrative machinery in anticipation of a major flood in the Mahanadi river system as all the major rivers started rising alarmingly triggered by a deep depression.

After reviewing the situation, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said all the departments had been geared up to tackle any eventuality and evacuation of people in affected areas had been ordered.

He said two helicopters were kept ready for the relief and rescue operations and Sarpanches were empowered to distribute relief to the distressed people.

The Chief Minister said the government was keeping a close watch on the situation.

The authorities were apprehending a high flood, worse than in 1982 which hit Bolangir,Sonepur,Boudh and the coastal districts of Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri.

As per official sources, the water level in the Hirakud Reservoir today touched 630 feet, the peak water level of the dam. While 4.62 lakh cusecs of water was flowing into the reservoir, the outflow was only 4.59 lakh cusecs.

At Munduli, nearly 14,34,351 cusecs water was flowing after 26 sluice gates of the Hirakud Reservoir were opened yesterday. Latest reports said all the rivers were flowing close to the danger level.

Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal said the government was making all efforts to tackle the situation.

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