Sambalpur: The Hirakud Dam authorities have decided Friday to release the Mahanadi floodwater for the first time July 24. Chhattisgarh government have opened most of the gates of the barrages and dams due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchments of the state.
The dam authorities have informed the riverside districts and the administrations to stay on alert about the release of water from the reservoir.
According to available information, the water level of the dam was 607.25 feet by 6 pm Thursday. The inflow of the floodwater into the reservoir was 1,17,600 cusecs per second while the outflow was 15,540 cusecs per second. The optimum water level of the dam is 630 feet.
The water level of the reservoir would rise further as the Indian Metrological Department has warned of heavy rain in the upper catchments in the next 48 hours with the formation of a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal.