Sambalpur, August 28, 2018: As many as 25 sluice gates of the Hirakud dam were opened on Tuesday to release about 4 lakh cusec of flood water.
As per information, at least 25 gates of Hirakud Dam were opened between 5-6 pm today. About 8 lakh cusec of water will flow in the Mahanadi at Mundali by Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi has asked the Collectors in Mahanadi system to remain alert and take precautionary measures.
He has alerted the Collectors of Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nayagarh, Angul, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda and Jajpur.
This may cause flood situation in different districts coming under Mahanadi river system.
Keeping this in view, he has asked the collectors to draw up an emergency plan to meet any eventuality and alert all field functionaries and depute mobile teams for close watch on vulnerable/ Week river and canal embankments, said the SRC in a letter to the concerned district Collectors.
He also directed functioning of control room round the clock. Satellite phones should be test operated and kept in readiness.
The SRC has also asked them to check and ensure readiness of power boats, country boats, identify villages, habitations likely to be inundated, if any, and arrange evacuation of the vulnerable population.
He directed the district chiefs to ensure physical verification of multipurpose flood/cyclone shelters in the area likely to be affected.
Direction has also been issued to ensure that evacuated people are properly sheltered and cooked food; safe drinking water and health facility are made available to them.
There are 64 sluice gates, including 24 on the right side and 40 on the left side of the dam to release flood water.
