Flood situation aggravates

SAMBALPUR: With 59 gates of Hirakud dam being opened to release flood water, fresh areas of Sambalpur town were inundated even as boats were pressed into service to evacuate people. Vehicular movement on roads from Jail square to Nelson Mandela square, Municipality square to Jail square in Sambalpur town came to a standstill as water of Dhobijore, which carries sewerage of the town, and rainwater spilled over the bridge and blocked the road.The water level of Dhobijore at Golebazar is flowing a few inches below the road and threatens to spill over to the road to submerge more areas if the rain did not stop.The situation led to water logging in Housing Board Colony, Govindtola, Putibandh, Charbati, Mandlia, Chandannagar, Kustapada, P&T Colony, Hirakud Colony, Mining Colony, Driver Colony, Sahu Colony, Dasmati Colony, Thakurpada, Law College Area, Mudiapda, Gole Bazar, Kumbharpada and other low-lying areas.Reports of water logging in the captive township of MCL at Burla and large areas in Hirakud have also been received.SITUATION GRIM: The flood situation in the region has turned grim with 55 sluice gates and four crest gates of the Hirakud dam being opened on Friday.The dam is releasing 9,72,928 cusec of water against an inflow of 10,61,871.The water level at the reservoir stood at 638.97 feet against the danger level of 630 and the rainfall recorded upstream was 31 mm while it was 25 mm downstream.There are 64 sluice gates in Hirakud dam, 24 on right spill way and 40 on the left spill way.Each sluice gate has a maximum discharge capacity of 16,440 cusec when the reservoir level is 630 feet.With not much rain being received upstream and downstream, sources in the dam said it is unlikely that more gates will be opened.Mahanadi RisingNAYAGARH: Around 34,309 people in 82 villages under Bhapur, Khandpara and Gania blocks have been affected by flood in the river Mahanadi.Officials said the Mahanadi is rising menacingly and likely to inundate more areas.The administration has dispatched dry food packets, polythene sheets, kerosene and flattened rice for distribution among all the floodaffected people.The affected gram panchayats in Gania block include Chhamundia, Rasang, Badasilinga, Belapadapatna and Kishoreprasad.Karbar, Patharchakada and Sasan gram panchayats have been hit in Bhapur block.Similarly, it is the Kantilo gram panchayat in Khandapara block.Angul: As many as 40,000 people in Tikarpara and Athmallick have been affected in the Mahanadi flood.The forest range office and public health centre have been inundated in Tikarpada.The Angul-Tikarpada road is under eight-foot water. People of five local villages have shifted to safer locations.