Bhubaneswar, Aug 25: Odisha is grappling with a flood-like situation as the Subarnarekha and Baitarani rivers continue to flow above danger levels due to incessant rainfall in their upper catchment areas.

According to Engineer-in-Chief Chandra Sekhar Padhi, the Subarnarekha river at Rajghat in Balasore district is flowing at 10.85 meters, surpassing its danger mark of 10.36 meters, and is expected to rise further to 11.4 meters.

Similarly, the Baitarani river at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district has crossed its danger level of 18.33 meters, currently flowing at 18.61 meters. While a temporary decline in water level was observed, forecasts suggest another surge due to continued rainfall in upstream regions.

The Hirakud reservoir is also witnessing increased inflow, prompting authorities to open 12 gates to release excess water. Currently, 2.22 lakh cusecs of water are being discharged, while 2.11 lakh cusecs are entering the reservoir.

Low-lying areas in Balasore — such as Bhograi, Basta, and Baliapal — have already been affected by the swelling Subarnarekha. Meanwhile, Jajpur and Bhadrak districts are bracing for impact from the Baitarani river, with areas like Dhamnagar and Dasarathpur on alert.

The Odisha government has deployed senior officials to monitor the situation and has alerted district collectors to prepare emergency response measures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall across the state from August 25 to 28, increasing the risk of further flooding.

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