Bhubaneswar, July 29: Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) Dilip Rout on Wednesday said that a moderate flood is expected in the Mahanadi river as inflows from the upper catchments continue to rise.

“The water level at Hirakud Dam currently stands at 616 feet. Although water is being released through two gates, heavy rainfall in the Tel river basin and the Balangir and Khairmal catchments is likely to bring 8.5 to 9 lakh cusecs of water to Mundali by tomorrow evening,” said Rout.

Rout said, “This is likely to result in minor to moderate flooding in the lower catchments of the Mahanadi and Daya rivers on Friday. Floodwaters may enter low-lying areas of Nimapara, Kanas, Gop and Astaranga, and residents have been advised to remain alert.”

The flood situation in the Baitarani basin continues, with floodwaters affecting parts of Dasarathpur in Jajpur district, Dhamnagar and Chandbali areas in Bhadrak district, said Rout.

“However, inflows into the Salandi river have reduced, and the flood situation in Bhadrak is expected to improve by tomorrow,” said Rout.

Minor breaches have occurred near Anandapur and in Jajpur. Repair work will be taken up after the water level recedes.

According to the State Government, more than two lakh people in six districts in Odisha have been affected by floods in the State.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Government has deputed three senior IAS officers to Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur to oversee relief and restoration measures as the situation in north Odisha remains critical due to major floods in Baitarani, Salandi and Jalaka rievrs.

While Odisha Mining Corporation Managing Director Sudhansu Mohan Samal has been deputed to Bhadrak, Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy has been deputed to Balasore, and Excise Commissioner P. Anvesha Reddy has been assigned Jajpur district.