JAGATSINGHPUR: Panic gripped people of villages near Daleighai, a major embankment of Devi river, on Wednesday after the river water started to overflow at many places. If breached, it could wash away a major part of the district. The danger level at Daleighai is 57 feet and by evening on Wednesday, water was flowing above 50 feet. The height of embankment is 66 ft. But flood threat is looming large in downstream of Mahanadi river basin, particularly in the district, after the season’s first flood water was released from sluice gates of Hirakud Dam on Tuesday.
Locals said every time flood water is released from Hirakud, panic grips people of the district apprehending breach at Daleighai. A retired engineer said nearly 400 metres on left side of Kathajodi near Devi river embankment are weak, while the depth of the river at Daleighai has been reduced due to siltation. The State Government should take steps to strengthen and widen the river embankments and dredge the siltation, he said and added that a concrete embankment should be constructed from Kaijanaga to Kantapada.
Contacted, Assistant Engineer of Irrigation department, Daleighai, Narendra Jena said villagers should not panic as the department has adopted several measures for strengthening the river embankment at Daleighai. Six high-level spurs and four low-level spurs have been erected on the left side of Kathajodi for protection of Daleighai embankment. In 2008, the water flowed at a height of 63.8 feet. There is no chance of any breach at Daleighai.Similarly, the river embankment has been widened by five metres and it has been strengthened under ADB project, he added.