Odisha Government Opens More Gates at Hirakud Dam Following Heavy Rainfall Upstream

Due to heavy rain in the upper catchment area, the Odisha government opened six additional gates of the Hirakud Dam and issued an alert for districts downstream. Despite releasing water from the dam, officials claim there is no fear of flooding.

In the wake of heavy rainfall in the upper catchment area of the Mahanadi River over recent days, the Odisha government has taken precautionary measures to mitigate potential flooding risks. As a senior official reported on September 15th, these measures included opening six additional sluice gates of Hirakud Dam and issuing alerts to downstream districts.

Increased Flow from Hirakud Dam

The dam currently has 20 out of its total 67 gates open. Through these openings, approximately three lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water is flowing, according to sources close to the matter. The decision was prompted by an increase in rainfall in the river's upper catchment area which recorded a significant 72 mm within just 24 hours.

Alerts for Downstream Districts

Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty, Water Resources engineer-in-chief, stated that officials have been put on high alert in all districts downstream of Mahanadi. To ensure uninterrupted monitoring and quick response if necessary, leaves have been cancelled for relevant personnel who are now required to maintain a vigilant watch on unfolding events. However, despite these precautions Mohanty expressed confidence that there is no imminent threat of floods even as water continues being released from the dam.

Rainfall Statistics and Forecasts

An official at the reservoir provided further data noting that while upstream areas were experiencing higher levels of precipitation with around 72mm recorded over one day; downstream regions had lower volumes at about 46mm during same period. This disparity underscores why increased flow from dam was deemed necessary.

In addition to current conditions, future weather forecasts also factored into governmental responses. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted continued heavy rainfall for Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts. These areas are expected to be under the influence of a well-marked low pressure area that has moved to eastern Madhya Pradesh.

Recent Rainfall in Odisha

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Bhubaneswar reported that within the last 24 hours, Odisha recorded an average rainfall of 23.8 mm across the state. This data further supports IMD's forecast and underscores need for continued vigilance regarding potential flooding risks.

In conclusion, while heavy rains continue to fall over parts of Odisha and particularly around Mahanadi River's upper catchment area; authorities have taken proactive steps to manage water levels and minimize flood risk. The situation is being closely monitored with alerts issued for downstream districts as necessary. Despite this increased vigilance, officials remain confident that there is no immediate threat of flooding even as they continue managing high water volumes through Hirakud Dam's sluice gates.