Hirakud Dam authorities have started releasing the year’s first floodwaters by opening seven gates at 9:30 AM after a ceremonial worship. They plan to open a total of 20 gates today, with six more gates opening at 12:30 PM and the remaining gates at 2:30 PM.
The released floodwater will reach Khairamal by tomorrow morning, bringing a flow of 4.5 lakh cusecs of water at 8 AM. Mundali will receive the first rainwater on the morning of July 30, with a flow of 5 lakh cusecs expected at 11 AM.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has alerted District Magistrates in the seven downstream districts—Sambalpur, Sonpur, Nayagarh, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara—to stay vigilant. The dam authorities have advised riverside residents to move to safer, higher ground due to rising water levels caused by heavy rains.