The gates of many dams in Madhya Pradesh have been opened due to heavy rains since Friday.
Indore received its highest single-day rainfall in 40 years, and Bhopal the highest in August in 14 years, as widespread heavy rains hit Madhya Pradesh for the third day in a row. Widespread rain flooded many rivers, including the Narmada, forcing authorities to open dam gates.
While the country’s cleanest city, Indore, recorded 10 inches of rain in 24 hours, Bhopal recorded 8.5 inches – the highest since 2006.
Three people died in rain-related incidents in Indore and at least 300 people were rescued in boats after the water level in the Kahn River rose when the gates of the Yashwant Sagar Dam opened.
Indore received 263.4mm of rain on Saturday, breaking the August 1981 record of 212.6mm, the meteorological department said, adding that it was also the first time this monsoon that the state’s 52 districts were getting rain at the same time.
Heavy rains in the upper Lake Bhopal watersheds since Friday have filled the reservoir to capacity, forcing officials to open 10 of the 11 Bhadbhada dam gates for the first time this season. The 13 gates of the Kaliasot dam downstream were also opened, which flooded all the low areas of the town of Bhopal. The sudden rise in the water level of the Kaliasot River submerged 60 slums in the Dam Kheda region and washed away at least 15 huts.
No injuries or loss of life have been reported, government officials said.
After heavy rains, around a dozen slums were washed away, while another 50 were damaged in the Damkheda region of Bhopal after the gates of the Kaliasot dam opened. No injuries or loss of life have been reported, government officials said. pic.twitter.com/QYWcnT1sTE
– Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) 23 Aug 2020
A red alert has been issued for extremely heavy rains in many districts, including Khargone, Alirajpur, Jhabua and Dhar.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who recently recovered from COVID-19, held a meeting with officials at his residence on Saturday to discuss the flood situation.
He ordered officials to ensure that the state control room operates 24 hours a day, aimed at the swift rescue of those trapped in waterlogged areas. He also ordered that appropriate arrangements be made for their food and shelter.
