Odisha flood threat rises as Mahanadi discharge may hit 8 lakh cusecs

A flood threat intensified across Odisha on Sunday as the Mahanadi river system was expected to carry up to 800,000 cusecs of water through Mundali by Monday morning, while several rivers in the northern districts continued to flow above danger levels, officials said.

Odisha Water Resources department engineer-in-chief Dillip Kumar Rout said the discharge at Mundali was expected to reach around 700,000 cusecs by Sunday night and could rise further to 800,000 cusecs by 10am on Monday.

The anticipated rise in water levels could affect low-lying parts of Khurda, Cuttack, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts. Several rivers linked to the Mahanadi system, including the Luna, Karandia, Chitrotpala, Kathajodi and Kuakhai, are expected to experience flooding.

Flooding is also likely in the Devi, Kandala, Kushabhadra, Daya, Bhargavi, Rajua and Makara rivers.

Northern districts face worsening flood conditions

The situation has already deteriorated in parts of northern Odisha, where the Baitarani, Salandi and Subarnarekha rivers remained above their respective danger marks.

In Bhadrak district, the Baitarani was flowing at 18.77 metres at Akhuapada against a danger level of 18.33 metres. The Salandi at Rajghat was also flowing above the danger mark.

The two rivers have affected 41 panchayats across Bhandaripokhari, Dhamnagar and Tihidi blocks, while floodwater has entered parts of Bhadrak municipality.

Several roads in northern Balasore have also been submerged, disrupting vehicular movement. In some places, floodwater was more than four feet above road levels.

Mayurbhanj has reported another major development after the embankment of the Gangahar river breached near Kunchibania village under Mangovindpur panchayat in Badasahi block. The breach inundated large areas of agricultural land.

Flooding has also been reported from the Banpur area of Khurda district following heavy rain and a rise in the water level of the Salia Dam.

CM conducts aerial survey as rain-related response continues

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted an aerial survey on Sunday of flood-affected areas in Ganjam, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts to assess the situation and damage.

He was scheduled to return to Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at around 4.15pm after completing the survey.

The latest flooding follows heavy rainfall associated with a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. The Odisha government has said public safety remains its priority and that relief preparations are being carried out in affected areas, including the provision of cooked food and other basic assistance at relief camps.

Odisha has a long history of flooding across the Mahanadi and other river basins, with the state government's disaster management documents noting that timely flood management and preparedness have helped reduce damage despite recurring floods.