Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday directed officials to a keep close vigil over possible flood situation and be ready to face any eventuality in the wake of discharge of water from the Hirakud reservoir following release of excess water from Chhattisgarh.

"The state administration is ready to face any eventuality," said Naveen after reviewing the preparedness.

The meeting was informed that 25 sluice gates of the Hirakud reservoir were opened since Tuesday evening as the dam authorities were forced to release excess water after sudden release of more than four lakh cusecs of water from Ravishankar dam and two other dams in Chhattisgarh.

BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra alleged that the Chhattisgarh government's high-handedness had forced the people of Odisha to face a possible flood.

Naveen asked the officials to ensure protection of weak and vulnerable river embankments, evacuate people from low-lying areas and keep adequate food, drinking water and medicines at vulnerable points.

Flood water of around 8.5 lakh cusec will pass through Mundali barrage between Wednesday midnight and early Thursday morning, said water resources secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena.

"By Wednesday evening, around 5.55 lakh cusec of water was passing through Mundali and the flow will rise further. The peak flood will pass by the early hours on Thursday," he said.

Special relief commissioner and disaster management secretary Bishnupada Sethi said: "We are keeping a close watch on the situation and have alerted 11 district administrations along the river basin to be prepared for any eventuality."