Odisha floods

Odisha floods

Floods in Orissa: –

The 482 km long of coastline of Orissa exposes the State to flood, cyclones and storm surges. Heavy rainfall during monsoon causes floods in the rivers. Flow of water from neighbouring States of Jharkhand and Chattisgarh also contributes to flooding. The flat coastal belts with poor drainage, high degree of siltation of the rivers, soil erosion, breaching of the embankments and spilling of floodwaters over them, cause severe floods in the river basin and delta areas. In Orissa, rivers such as the mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Brahmani, Baitarani, Rushikulya, Vansadhara and their many tributaries and branches flowing through the State expose vast areas to floods.

In Orissa, damages are caused due to floods mainly in the Mahanadi, the Brahmani, and the Baitarani. These rivers have a common delta where flood waters intermingle, and when in spate simultaneously, wreak considerable havoc. This problem becomes even more acute when floods coincide with high tide. The water level rises due to deposits of silt on the river-bed. Rivers often overflow their banks or water rushes through new channels causing heavy damages. Floods and drainage congestion also affect the lower reaches along the Subarnarekha. The rivers Rusikulya, Vansadhara and Budhabalanga also cause occasional floods.

The entire coastal belt in prone to storm surges. The storms that produce tidal surges are usually accompanied by heavy rain fall making the coastal belt vulnerable to both floods and storm surges. People die; livestock perish; houses are washed away; paddy and other crops are lost and roads and bridges are damaged. The floods of 1980, 1982, 2001 and 2003 in the State were particularly severe; property worth crores of rupees was destroyed in the floods.

Odisha's eight districts are already inundated as the state faces the first flood of the season. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday asked officers concerned to ensure "zero casualty" amidst the rising water level in the Mahanadi river system.

The next 48 to 72 hours are critical for the Mahanadi delta region the special relief commissioner (SRC), P K Jena told reporters.

The state has witnessed torrential monsoonal rain in the catchment areas due to the week-long low pressure and depression, attracting rain bearing clouds.

“The flood situation in the Mahanadi river system is grim. The next 48 to 72 hours are critical for the state as about 12 lakh cusec flood water will flow at Mundali barrage near Cuttack and the water level in other connecting rivers will remain at about 10 lakh cusec," Jena said after Patnaik reviewed the situation.

Deptt. of Water Resources

@OdishaWater

Review meeting of ACS, DoWR with EICs and senior officers in the field on status of flood and discharge : all officers still on alert : additional officers being deputed.

On Monday the administration had closed eight more gates at Hirakud dam to control the situation. SRC Jena replying to a question said, “Now as the water level is increasing in the Hirakud reservoir, the decision on opening more gates will be taken after a review in Tuesday afternoon."

Water level in Hirakud reservoir crossed 626 feet against the full reservoir level of 630 feet by 12 noon alarming the officials as the Mahanadi river system turned grim.