After a gap of eight years, a gate of the Upper Kolab water reservoir was opened on Saturday to check possible floods that might occur due to the cyclonic storm Hudhud hitting Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast on Sunday.
A lot of people gathered at the reservoir to witness flow of water through the gate. According to Telengiri project JE Anil Kumar Mishra, the water level in the reservoir stood at 855.20 metre against the danger level of 858 mtre.
“As there are chances of heavy rainfall in the next two days, a gate was opened as a precautionary measure,” official sources said, adding that people were informed beforehand through the mike not to go into the river.
Meanwhile, Korput Collector Yamini Sarangi said the district administration has taken all necessary measures to meet any eventuality that might happen due to the Hudhud. The ODRAF and Fire Service teams have been sent to vulnerable places. People residing in mud houses in comparatively low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places, claimed district officials.
The Jeypore Municipality authorities, who had been sitting silent for years, were seen taking a drainage cleanliness drive on war-footing on Saturday. “The drainage system is being okayed for free flow of rain water likely to deluge the town during storm,” said a municipality official.