Odisha, Aug 5 : Incessant rain and flooding in several parts of Odisha, which has intensified in the last 24 hours due to the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, has wreaked havoc in the state.
The intermittent showers disrupted normal life in several parts of the state, leaving many roads and streets in Malkangiri, Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Koraput, Jagatsinghpur, and other places, submerged and flooded.
Met office has forecasted heavy rain in many places in the next 24 hours, especially the lower Mahanadi catchment areas.
In the last 24 hrs, the western Odisha town, Sambalpur has recorded the highest rainfall of 240 mm, while Hirakud received 169 mm rainfall.
Odisha government has, meanwhile, assured the people that there is no threat of flood in the lower catchment areas of Mahanadi as the water was released from Hirakud dam today.
Briefing the media persons yesterday in Bhubaneswar, Water Resources secretary Pradeep Jena said, as the water level in the dam is slowly rising in view of water flow from the upper catchments of Mahanadi, the government has decided to release water through six or 10 sluice gates any time after 10 a.m.
today. However, he said that the people living near the river and its tributary areas are advised to remain on alert as there will be a rise in the water level.
Source: ANI
