Sambalpur: Authorities at the Hirakud Dam opened four more sluice gates on Saturday afternoon to release excess water as the water level continues to rise due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi River.
Earlier in the day, at around 10 AM, four sluice gates had already been opened. With the latest action, a total of eight sluice gates — three on the left side and five on the right side — are now discharging water.
Reservoir officials stated that the decision to release water was taken after assessing the steady inflow of floodwater from the upper reaches and the rising storage level. They added that the operation is being monitored closely to balance inflow and outflow.
With persistent rainfall in the upstream regions, authorities have warned that water levels in the reservoir are likely to remain high, and further measures could be taken if necessary.
