Bhubaneswar: Six gates of Hirakud dam were opened on Tuesday to release excess water from the reservoir due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment area.
According to reports, the gates were opened in two phases, with two gates opened at 3 pm and four additional gates opened at 5 pm. The dam authorities took the decision to open its gates to ensure the safety of the dam and surrounding areas.
The current water level in the reservoir stood at 626.35 feet at 9 pm on Tuesday. The dam was receiving a significant inflow of 95,277 cusecs of floodwater, while discharging 1,33,392 cusecs of water through various gates. The water discharge at Mundali was recorded at 87,700 cusecs.
The gates that have been opened include numbers 17, 18, 19, and 24 on the left side of the dam, and numbers 49 and 50 on the right side. People living in low-lying areas have been advised to remain cautious and avoid venturing into the riverbed during the release of floodwater.
