Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Odisha Flood Threat Grows as Mahanadi Swells After Gates Open
Heavy rain upstream caused more water to flow into the Hirakud reservoir.
Officials opened 28 gates to release some of that water safely.
This made the Mahanadi River rise downstream.
Areas in Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada could see flooding.
A bridge near Banki is already covered by about three feet of water.
Several villages have been cut off from regular road access.
Government teams are watching bridges and embankments and preparing rescue services.
Weather officials do not expect major rain in Odisha over the next few days.
This could help the water go down after the highest flow passes.
Hirakud Dam authorities opened 28 sluice gates after heavy rainfall increased inflows into the reservoir.
The reservoir was receiving nearly 5 lakh cusecs and releasing about 4.4 lakh cusecs of water.
Officials warned that discharge at Mundali could reach 8 lakh cusecs, threatening low-lying areas across the Mahanadi delta.
Floodwater submerged the Huluhula bridge near Ghodabar, disrupting access to six gram panchayats in Banki and four in Tigiria.
The Odisha government activated control rooms and prepared relief, rescue, drinking-water and health services for vulnerable districts.
- Who
- Hirakud Dam authorities, Odisha government officials and residents of vulnerable delta districts are involved.
- What
- Water released from Hirakud has increased the Mahanadi flood threat, inundating low-lying areas and disrupting road communication.
- When
- The situation became more serious on Monday, after officials warned of rising discharge through Sunday night and Monday morning.
- Where
- The threat affects the Mahanadi basin and delta, including parts of Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Banki and Tigiria.
- Why
- Heavy rainfall in the upper Mahanadi catchment, particularly in Chhattisgarh, sharply increased inflows into the Hirakud reservoir.
- Sluice gates opened
- 28 gates at Hirakud Dam: 19 on the left and nine on the right
- Reservoir inflow
- Nearly 5 lakh cusecs
- Reservoir outflow
- About 4.4 lakh cusecs
- Expected Mundali discharge
- Officials warned it could rise to around 8 lakh cusecs
- Affected areas
- Low-lying parts of Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada
- Bridge inundation
- About three feet of water was reported over the Huluhula bridge near Ghodabar
- Weather outlook
- The India Meteorological Department forecast no major rainfall over Odisha during the next few days