Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, reviewing a possible flood-like situation in the State on Wednesday, directed the concerned officials to keep a watch on the water level of the Mahanadi river and stay prepared to combat any eventuality.
Patnaik discussed about the situation with Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishupada Sethi.
It was reviewed that following release of flood water by Chhattisgarh into the lower catchments of the Mahanadi, 25 sluice gates have been opened at the Hirakud Dam.
Besides, water from other tributaries entering the Mahanadi, has triggered a possible flood-like situation. It was expected that 8.5 lakh cusec of flood water would reach the Mundali barrage in Cuttack by Thursday morning.
The heavy inflow of flood water would cause a low to medium flood situation in the districts of Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nayagarh, Angul, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Khordha and Jajpur.
The Collectors of these 11 districts were asked to stay alert and ensure all arrangements to handle the situation. Besides, the Collectors have been asked to shift people living in the low-lying areas apart from keeping ready medicines, food and drinking water and other relief materials.
This apart, three NDRF and two ODRAF teams were deployed to carry out rescue operations. It is also learnt that 198 boats and 474 flood-ready shelters have been prepared to rescue and relocate people.
Reports said floodwaters has entered some villages in Bhadrak district bring misery for the people, who have shifted to safer places. In Boudh and Subarnapur districts acres of farmland were inundated and road communication snapped in many parts in both the districts.
While road communication from Sonepur to Biramaharajpur via Bijepur was disrupted due to floodwater flowing above the Bijepur bridge, Sonepur-Rairakhol road was also submerged at Pitamahula due to excess flow of water in Bauri Jora. Similarly, vehicular traffic between Biramaharajpur-Rairakhol, Biramaharajpur-Athmallik and Biramaharajpur-Boudh was cut off.