Anugola: The first floodwater of the season was released from the Rengali reservoir in Anugola district on Thursday as continuous rainfall in the upper catchment areas pushed up the water level of the dam, prompting authorities to open one sluice gate.
The release comes even as flood conditions continue to affect several parts of the state, with rescue and relief operations underway in vulnerable areas.
According to dam authorities, the reservoir’s full reservoir level is 123.50 metres, while the water level stood at 122.24 metres at the time of the release. Water is flowing into the reservoir at the rate of 2,735 cubic metres per second.
Officials said 1,394.24 cubic metres of water per second is being discharged through the opened sluice gate, while another 501 cubic metres per second is being released through the power tunnel to regulate the rising inflow.
Following the release of floodwater, authorities have issued alerts to the downstream districts of Anugola, Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Kendrapada, which could witness a rise in the water level of the Brahmani River.
Residents living along the riverbanks have been advised to remain vigilant and avoid venturing close to the river. Authorities have also cautioned people not to take domestic animals near the river as water levels may rise further.
Dam officials said the situation is being closely monitored and additional sluice gates would be opened if inflows continue to increase, depending on the prevailing hydrological conditions.
