Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Odisha on High Alert Amid Medium Flood Threat in Mahanadi
The state of Odisha in India is worried about big floods.
The Mahanadi river is getting very full because of a lot of rain.
The dam on the river is almost full too.
The government has told everyone to stay alert and has stopped people from going on leave.
They have moved more than a million people to safer places and set up many relief camps.
They are also checking the river banks so they don’t break and cause more damage.
The main goal is to keep people safe and stop any big loss of life.
Odisha remains on high alert as floods continue to affect four northern districts and threaten a medium flood in the Mahanadi river system.
Water levels at the Hirakud Dam have risen to 620 feet, close to its full reservoir level of 630 feet, with inflows exceeding 3.3 million cusecs.
Officials estimate that the Mundali barrage will see discharge of 9 lakh cusecs, potentially causing widespread inundation of low‑lying coastal districts.
Over 1.7 million people have been evacuated, and more than 500 relief camps have been set up, while 123 rescue teams from NDRF, ODRAF and fire services are deployed.
The state government has cancelled leave for all officials in affected districts and intensified embankment surveillance to prevent breaches and protect lives.
- Who
- Odisha state government officials, including Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, and Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout
- What
- High alert declared and preparations for a medium flood in the Mahanadi river system
- When
- July 30–31, 2024
- Where
- Odisha, India, especially the northern districts and the coastal belt along the Mahanadi
- Why
- Heavy rainfall from a deep depression has raised river levels and threatens embankment breaches
- State
- Odisha
- River
- Mahanadi
- Dam
- Hirakud Dam
- Water level at dam
- 620 feet
- Full reservoir level
- 630 feet
- Discharge at Mundali
- 9 lakh cusecs
- Evacuated people
- 1.7 million