Large areas of the eastern state of Orissa were flooded by heavy monsoon rains, causing reservoirs to overflow and forcing the release of water from the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River. Seventeen of the stateÂ’s 30 districts were inundated, but major highways and railway lines remained open. The flooding is not unusual: traditional monsoon rains all summer have filled rivers and reservoirs, and the riverbanks cannot contain all the water in this lowland state. Follow local press reports for updates on the condition of highways, bridges, and other transport networks.
