Hirakud Dam begins opening sluice gates to release flood water

Bhubaneswar: Eight sluice gates of the Hirakud Dam have been opened to release flood water into the lower catchment area of Mahanadi river, said an official on Tuesday.

The reservoir authorities will open a total 15 sluice gates for the day, the official said.

The sluice gates of Hirakud reservoir opened for the first time in the current monsoon season to release flood waters.

The water level in the Hirakud reservoir now stands at 617.60 feet against its water holding capacity of 630 ft.

The released flood water would take 36 hours to reach Mundali at Cuttack, said Hirakud Dam Chief Engineer Jyotirmaya Rath.