JAMSHEDPUR, Sept. 2 -- Floodwaters inundated low-lying areas in Jamshedpur while flood alerts have sounded in Jamshedpur, Adityapur, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamu and Ramgarh districts of Jharkhand. Life is in disarray in at least 15 districts because incessant rains over the past three days forced the opening of Bankbal and Kharkai dams in Odisha, Ghazia Barrage, Galudih Barrage, Chandil Dam in Kolhan, Getalsud Dam in Ranchi, Patratu dam in Ramgarh and Rihand Dam in Palamu, people close to the developments said on Tuesday. The gravity of the situation could be gauged from the fact that the Kharkai river was flowing 4.30 meters above its danger level of 129.00 meters at the Adityapur Bridge site, while the Subarnarekha river was flowing 1.30 meters above its danger level of 121.50 meters at 4.00 pm on Tuesday. According to the flood control cell at the Subarnarekha Multi-purpose Project (SMP) office Adityapur, the water level in Kharkai Dam was at 311.55 meters against a high flood level of 313.50 meters, discharging 27.80 cumec water through one gate. The Bankbal Dam was discharging 124.40 cumec water through its two opened gates as the water level there reached 303.44 meters against a high flood level of 305.00 meters. In both dams, the water level was rising at 4.00 PM. All 15 gates of the Ghazia Barrage have been opened, discharging 4,931.27 cumecs water as the water level there reached 138.50 meters against a high flood level of 143.70 meters. All 13 gates in Chandil Dam and Galudih Barrage too have been opened by Tuesday evening. Floodwaters have entered houses and residential areas in low-lying areas of Bagbera, Baroda Ghat, Naya Basti, Kadma, Shastrinagar, Ramnagar, Jugsalai, Mango and Bhuiyandih. "Both Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers have been flowing above their danger levels and floodwaters have entered a few low-lying areas. Relief and rescue operations have started, and people are being requested to shift to the relief shelters at higher and safer locations identified by the urban local bodies. Miking is being done at the riverside areas," Rajiv Ranjan, East Singhbhum district deputy commissioner (DC), told the media on Tuesday. Officials said that a gate of the Rihad Dam was also opened on Tuesday evening after the water level there crossed 872 feet, discharging 10,400 cumec water. The hydel power corporation has been running all six turbines to produce power and control rising water by discharging 17,900 cumec water through this process. Palamu district administration has sounded a flood alert after the water level crossed the danger level in the Sone river following heavy rainfall over the past 36 hours. Its tributary, the North Koyal river was also rising and the administration and police have been carrying out miking at the riverside areas. The situation worsened after 160,000 lakh cusecs water was released from the Indrapuri Barrage and 157,000 cusecs water was released from the Bansagar, prompting a flood alert along the riverside areas from Mohammadganj of Hussainabad to Dangwar. The continuous rains have also thrown normal life into disarray in the state capital Ranchi and adjoining areas. Officials said that the water level in both Getalsud Dam and Gonda Dam in Ranchi was touching the danger level. The water level at Getalsud Dam was at 1933 feet and its gates would be opened once it crosses the 1933.5 feet mark with its high flood level being 1936 feet. The water level at Gonda Dam has reached 2128 feet. Two gates of the Patratu Dam in Ramgarh were also opened by Tuesday evening, discharging 1330 cumec water after the water level there reached 1327.10 feet. This has resulted in rising water levels in the Damodar and Nalkari rivers. Floodwaters were also flowing over small bridges and farmlands in Hazaribagh, Giridih and Koderma districts. According to the Ranchi meteorological department, the highest rainfall of 171 mm was recorded in Mahuatand (Latehar), followed by 112.2 mm in Dumaria (East Singhbhum), 95.4 mm in Majhgaon (West Singhbhum), 41 mm in Lohardaga, 40 mm in Bokaro, 39 mm in Jamshedpur and 13 mm in Ranchi. "Rains will continue to lash dozens of districts from September 2 to 6 as the monsoon is now in full force, particularly with a low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal. Thunderstorms and heavy rain with winds flowing at 39-40 kmph is predicted on September 3," Abhishek Anand, meteorological scientist in Ranchi, said....