Bhubaneswar, Sept 05: The death toll in the current floods in the Mahanadi system of Orissa rose to 23 while all the rivers in the coastal deltaic plains maintained a rising trend today. Unofficial reports, however, put the toll at 34. Most of the deaths were caused by accidental drowning.

The rise in the river levels was caused by the fresh discharge from the Hirakud Dam since yesterday following increased inflow into the reservoir from Chhatisgarh.

Official sources said that the discharge at the Naraj delta head had been measured at 10.5 lakh cusecs which was likely to go upto 11 lakh cusecs later tonight.
The flood situation in the delta remained unchanged with 1138 villages continuing to be marooned as a population of about 3.2 million had been affected in the six districts of Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri and Khurda.

The chief secretary, P K Mohanty said that the Hirakud reservoir was receiving 6.10 lakh cusecs of water while releasing 5.45 lakh cusecs. The reservoir level had gone up to 626.27 ft forcing the authorities to open 32 sluices. Six of the gate would be closed later tonight, he said.

Bureau Report