Bhubaneswar: The flood situation in Odisha turned critical on Tuesday as heavy rainfall caused water levels to rise sharply in several major rivers, with authorities warning of flood conditions in the Jalaka, Salandi and Baitarani rivers.

Engineer-in-Chief of the Odisha Water Resources Department, Dillip Kumar Rout, said North Odisha received intense rainfall over the past 24 hours, with Nilgiri in Balasore district recording the highest precipitation.

He said flood conditions are expected in the Jalaka, Salandi and Baitarani rivers by this evening. A major flood is likely in the Baitarani river, with the water level at Akhuapada expected to touch the danger mark by evening. The flood is likely to affect low-lying areas in Dhamnagar, Dasarathpur and Chandbali, while agricultural lands are also expected to be inundated. Rout said water released from reservoirs is likely to cause waterlogging in Bhadrak. 

He added that the Mahanadi witnessed its peak flood level on Monday evening, but the water level has since started receding, with a gradual fall being recorded at Mundali. However, waterlogging remains a possibility in low-lying areas of Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara.

Regarding Hirakud Dam, Rout said two gates remain open, and no additional gates are likely to be opened over the next two days. He also noted that South Odisha has received comparatively less rainfall this season, resulting in lower storage levels in reservoirs. While Subarnapur has recorded the highest rainfall in the region, Gajapati has received the least.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said Odisha received an average rainfall of 47.2 mm during the latest spell, with Nilgiri recording the highest at 239 mm. Eight blocks received more than 200 mm of rainfall, while the state has recorded 84 per cent excess rainfall over the past eight days compared to the seasonal average.

The Minister said the Jalaka river has already crossed the danger level, while the Salandi and Baitarani rivers are witnessing rising water levels but are yet to breach the danger mark. Around 700,000 cusecs of water is expected to reach Mundali, though officials do not anticipate any major threat from the Mahanadi at present.

Pujari said water has entered several urban areas, leaving many residents stranded. Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams have been deployed, while National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams remain on alert.

Evacuation has already begun in vulnerable areas of Bhadrak and Sundargarh districts. In Bhadrak, around 35 families are currently surrounded by floodwaters, and rescue teams are using boats to evacuate them.

The Minister said rainfall is expected to continue until Wednesday, with isolated places likely to experience heavy to very heavy showers. He added that the Revenue and Disaster Management Department is maintaining constant coordination with district administrations to monitor the evolving flood situation and ensure timely response.