Kataka: The Mahanadi river is witnessing another rise in floodwater following heavy rainfall in its upper catchment areas, triggering concerns over possible flooding in low-lying areas of Banki in Odisha's Kataka district.

This is the fourth flood situation in the Mahanadi this year. Around 7.52 lakh cusecs of water was flowing through Mundali, while 28 gates of the Hirakud reservoir have been opened.

If the floodwater rises further, four gram panchayats in Banki block and five panchayats in Dampada block are expected to be affected.

Floodwater has already started affecting several roads and bridges in the area. Around one foot of water was flowing over the Bilipada-Talabasta road, while nearly two feet of water has accumulated over the Kainia canal. Similarly, around two feet of floodwater was flowing over the Huluhula bridge on the Subarnapur-Ratagada road.

The rising water has also submerged hundreds of hectares of farmland, raising concerns among farmers over possible crop damage and losses.

The administration is closely monitoring the movement of the floodwater and the situation in vulnerable areas. However, the rising water level has triggered anxiety among residents living in low-lying parts of Banki and nearby areas.