Mahanadi River Flood Alert: 600,000 cusecs Expected at Naraj after Hirakud Release

The Water Resources Department of Odisha has issued a flood alert for the Mahanadi River after the Hirakud dam released a large volume of water. The release is projected to raise the river's discharge to about 600,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) at the Naraj barrage, a level that exceeds normal flow and could inundate low‑lying areas along the banks. Local authorities have instructed residents in vulnerable villages to move to higher ground and have deployed rescue teams and sandbagging operations. Schools and markets in the Naraj and nearby Cuttack districts have been temporarily closed. Meteorological officials are monitoring rainfall in the catchment area, which could further augment the river's volume. The situation remains fluid, and updates will be issued as the flow stabilises. The flood comes amid an unusually heavy monsoon season, prompting calls for better dam management and flood‑plain planning.