Bhubaneswar, July 11 -- The water level of the Mahanadi is rising as the season's first floodwater released from the Hirakud Dam reached Mundali barrage, Cuttack, Odisha on Saturday. The Water Resources Department is closely monitoring the river's flow after the controlled release of water from the reservoir.

At Mundali barrage, the inflow was recorded at 79,100 cusecs, while 75,000 cusecs of water was flowing downstream. Downstream districts had been alerted in advance before the release of floodwater as a precautionary measure.

The water level at the Hirakud reservoir stood at 612.37 feet on Saturday, showing a marginal decline from the previous day. Eight sluice gates of the dam remain open to regulate the discharge.

According to of...