Cuttack, Aug. 3: The district administration is on high alert because a medium-level flood is being anticipated in the Mahanadi river basin.

A 24-hour control room has been set up and all officers in the various tehsils and blocks have been asked to remain on alert with 22 gates of the Hirakud dam having been opened.

“We are alert and adequate measures have been taken to carry out relief and rescue operations in case of any flood,” said Cuttack collector Girish S.N.

More than 5.17 lakh cusec water was flowing at Mundali, 2.46 lakh cusec at Naraj and 2.68 lakh cusec at Jobra till this evening.

Official sources said around 419 hectares of agricultural field had been submerged under flood water in four gram panchayat areas of Tigiria block.

Road communication between Athgarh and Tigiria block via the Huluhula nullah bridge has been cut off because the flood water is flowing on the road.

“Though flood water is now flowing on a few roads, no villages been marooned. Also, the water has shown a receding trend,” said Athgarh sub-collector Trilochan Pradhan.

He said that country boats and two power boats were kept ready to carry out relief and rescue operations if needed.

Flood water entered agricultural fields at six gram panchayats in Banki today.