The flood situation in Orissa on Saturday, September 20, 2008 turned from bad to worse with its major rivers, including the Mahanadi, causing as many as seven breaches in embankment. With the flood sweeping away villages unmercifully, thousands of locals are reported to have been badly affected.

Officials informed that excess water got released after 40 of the 64 sluice gates of the Hirakud dam built on the Mahanadi River were opened. This caused the bloated Mahanadi to make seven breaches in its river system at Kendrapara, Angul and Cuttack districts. While officials say seven have got killed in the Orissa flood, unofficial sources quote 13.

As per reports Kendrapara, with four breaches, looks to be the worst-hit. The district has two more breaches at Sansara and Bidari. In Cuttack, the breaches have occurred at Basinga and Kantilo. The one breach in the Angul district has happened at Raniala. However with excess water at various places, there are many other embankments that look vulnerable.