Bhubaneswar: Concerns over a possible flood situation have intensified in Odisha’s coastal and low-lying areas as the water level of the Mahanadi river continues to rise following the phased release of water from the Hirakud Reservoir. Water Resources Department engineer-in-chief Dillip Kumar Rout said the next 36 hours from Thursday night would be crucial as the Mahanadi was expected to witness peak flood discharge. “We are expecting a flow of 9 lakh to 9.5 lakh cusecs at Mundali near Cuttack. The next 36 hours starting Thursday night are very crucial as the peak flood will be witnessed in the Mahanadi. This is the highest volume of water expected to flow through the river during this monsoon,” Rout told reporters.