Odisha remains on high alert due to the rising water level in the Mahanadi river, which has prompted authorities to prepare for a possible flood in the downstream regions. The flood situation has already impacted more than six lakh people, with over 1.65 lakh evacuated from the worst-hit regions.
The rising water levels in the Mahanadi have emerged as a major concern, prompting authorities to alert districts along the river basin after heavy rainfall in the river’s upper catchment areas in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Water from the Tel, Ib, and Jira tributaries is further increasing the Mahanadi’s water level. According to Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout, discharge at Mundali near Cuttack could increase from around eight lakh cusecs on Thursday morning to nearly nine lakh cusecs by evening, potentially leading to a medium flood.
The Odisha Government is closely monitoring the flood situation round the clock, with rescue and relief operations in full swing. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and Fire Services have been deployed across vulnerable areas.
The situation has deteriorated in Jajpur district, where two breaches developed in the embankment of the Kani river, a tributary of the Baitarani, inundating fresh areas and marooning several villages across three blocks. Although water levels in some north Odisha rivers have begun receding, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said they remain above the danger mark.
As a precaution, schools and anganwadi centres have been closed in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi districts in view of the flood situation and the India Meteorological Department’s rainfall forecast. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is continuously monitoring the situation and has instructed district collectors to remain fully alert and ensure relief reaches every affected family.
Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida have urged people to rely only on official information, avoid rumours, and support ongoing rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar said rainfall intensity is expected to reduce on Thursday, though light rain accompanied by thunderstorms is likely in several districts.
