Bhubaneswar, July 31: Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Friday reviewed the prevailing flood situation in the state through a high-level meeting with the district collectors of flood-affected areas. The review was conducted via video conferencing from Lok Seva Bhavan.

The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), and senior officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Water Resources Department.

During the review, the minister directed officials to remain on high alert as Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, and Cuttack have been identified as vulnerable districts. Officials informed the meeting that no major rainfall is expected across Odisha over the next two days, although Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Sundargarh may receive intermittent rainfall of up to 70 mm.

The Water Resources Department reported that the Mahanadi River is currently carrying a discharge of 865,000 cusecs of water. At present, 12 gates of the Hirakud Dam are open, with plans to open one more gate if necessary. Authorities are also prepared to operate up to 22 gates depending on the evolving flood situation.

To strengthen flood management efforts, the minister assigned former Bhadrak District Collector Dillip Routaray to oversee flood response operations.

Earlier on Thursday, Pujari conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected and waterlogged areas in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Keonjhar districts by helicopter to assess the extent of the damage and review the ongoing relief and response measures.