Flood Fury / Odisha Flood Alert: More Hirakud Gates Likely to Open; Monday's High Tide Could Slow Floodwater Drainage in Coastal Delta/Exclusive

Bhubaneswar: Even as the flood gripping northern Odisha may lessen in next 48 hrs, the flood threat is entering a critical phase as it will be hitting the Mahanadi deltaic region in the coming 48 hrs.

Though the situation remains under control for now, the next 48 to 72 hours will be crucial as massive inflows into Hirakud Dam are likely to force the opening of more spillway gates, sending a flood wave towards the coastal districts of Puri, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur.

Moreover, the second concern comes from the sea.

The floodwaters are expected to reach the coastal delta around Monday, when high tide in the Bay of Bengal is forecast around 11:10 AM. If river water and high tide coincide, drainage into the sea could slow down temporarily, increasing water levels in low-lying areas.

Why more Hirakud gates may open

Hirakud Dam is receiving nearly 3.95 lakh cusecs of water, while releasing only about 1.19 lakh cusecs through 12 gates.

That means the reservoir is accumulating water much faster than it is releasing it.

The reservoir level has already reached 624.60 feet, just 5.4 feet below its Full Reservoir Level of 630 feet. With inflow more than three times the outflow, authorities are expected to gradually open additional gates to prevent the reservoir from filling too quickly.

Officials generally prefer controlled releases over sudden large discharges to reduce flood risk downstream.

When will the released water reach downstream?

Floodwater does not reach coastal Odisha immediately.

• Friday night-Saturday: Water moves from Hirakud towards Khairmal.
• Saturday afternoon-evening: The flood wave reaches Barmul.
• Sunday: Water arrives at Mundali near Cuttack.
• Sunday night-Monday: Water spreads into the Mahanadi delta through the Kathajodi, Kuakhai, Devi and other distributaries.

This means the highest vigilance is required from Sunday night onwards in the coastal districts.

Which areas are most likely to be affected?

Cuttack district

The first impact is expected in:

• Banki
• Athagarh
• Tigiria
• Low-lying villages near Naraj and the Mahanadi

The Naraj gauge is already slightly above the danger level, indicating that additional inflows could prolong flooding in nearby areas.

Puri district

Water is expected to rise from Monday in:

• Nimapara
• Pipili
• Gop
• Kanas

Although river levels remain below danger level now, they are expected to increase once the flood wave reaches the delta.

Jagatsinghpur district

The vulnerable areas include:

• Raghunathpur
• Tirtol
• Kujanga
• Other low-lying coastal villages

These areas face a double challenge—river floodwater from upstream and restricted drainage into the Bay of Bengal during high tide.

Why Monday's high tide is important

Normally, river water flows freely into the sea.

However, on Monday, high tides are expected at around:

• 11:10 AM (about 7 feet)
• 11:41 PM (about 6.6 feet)

During high tide, seawater pushes inland and temporarily slows the river's discharge into the Bay of Bengal.

If the flood wave from Hirakud reaches the delta during this period, water may remain trapped for a few hours, increasing pressure on river embankments and causing waterlogging in low-lying villages.

This is known as the backwater effect.

Another factor to watch: Tel River

The Tel River is already contributing nearly 3.84 lakh cusecs into the Mahanadi downstream of Hirakud.

If fresh rainfall occurs over the Tel basin, the additional water could combine with Hirakud releases and further increase river levels downstream.

Is Odisha heading for a major flood?

At present, Odisha Water Resources Dept experts do not see signs of a catastrophic flood similar to the prolonged floods of previous years. They , however, see a medium flood hitting the Mahanadi basin.

The present flood wave is expected to move faster but for a shorter duration.

However, localized flooding is likely in vulnerable low-lying pockets, especially if:

• More Hirakud gates are opened,
• Upstream rainfall continues, and
• Monday's high tide slows drainage into the sea.

What should people expect?

Residents in low-lying areas of Cuttack, Puri and Jagatsinghpur should closely monitor official advisories over the next three days.

The key period of concern is Sunday night to Monday evening, when the floodwater from Hirakud is expected to reach the coastal delta and coincide with high tide, creating conditions for temporary flooding and waterlogging in vulnerable areas.