New Delhi, Aug. 2 -- Ten districts in Odisha downstream of the Mahanadi river have been placed on high alert as the Hirakud Dam continues to release water through 22 gates, with chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi saying the floods have affected around 8 lakh people across the state.

While the flood situation in northern Odisha has begun to improve, authorities remain on alert in the Mahanadi delta region, where sustained water discharge from the Hirakud Dam has inundated several low-lying areas, according to PTI.

According to reports, the downstream districts placed on high alert are Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Angul, Boudh, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Nayagarh.

The Special Relief Commissioner said special focus is b...