India, Aug. 1 -- Ten Odisha districts downstream of the Mahanadi river were put on high alert on Saturday, 1 August as the Hirakud Dam continued discharging water through 22 gates, inundating low-lying areas, officials said.

More than 8.34 lakh people in 20 districts have been affected by the floods, with civic infrastructure and farmland damaged. Flooding caused by overflowing Salangi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Jalaka and Budhabalang rivers has also damaged more than 1,300 houses in northern Odisha, with Bhadrak the worst affected, followed by Jajpur, Balasore and Mayurbhanj.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas along with Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari and senior offici...