Odisha flood alert issued as Mahanadi, Bansadhara and Baitarani rivers swell

The Odisha government has heightened flood monitoring after continuous heavy rainfall caused water levels to rise sharply in the Mahanadi, Bansadhara and Baitarani rivers. In the Mahanadi basin, the Hirakud Dam recorded a sharp inflow increase and authorities began releasing floodwater through multiple sluice gates, with discharge monitored at the Mundali barrage near Cuttack. The Bansadhara River crossed the danger mark at Kasinagar in Gajapati district, and the Baitarani River rose above danger level at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district, flooding low‑lying agricultural land.

State officials placed district administrations across vulnerable basins on high alert, directing collectors in Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur and Bhadrak to remain prepared for emergencies. Residents in low‑lying and riverside areas were advised to stay vigilant, avoid entering swollen rivers, keep livestock away from embankments and follow official advisories. The India Meteorological Department forecast continued rainfall over parts of Odisha under a low‑pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, prompting ongoing surveillance of the flood situation.