Bhopal breaches all-time rain record as showers continue to batter MP

PTI9_15_2019_000009A Rain continues to lash different parts of flood-hit Madhya Pradesh | PTI

Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, breached the rainfall record for a season. The city received 1,694 mm of rainfall till Wednesday evening, breaking the earlier record of 1,686.4 mm in the year 2006.

According to the records available from 1980 with the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Bhopal, the 2006 rainfall was the highest for a season in Bhopal till date.

The official rainy season in the state is between June 1 and September 30, and the 2006 figure is for the entire season. With 12 more days to go for this season to end and prediction of rain continuing till at least September 23, the rainfall figure in Bhopal is expected to go far higher compared to 2006, RMC officials have said.

Bhopal has constantly been receiving heavy showers since July end, leading to all water bodies overflowing. The historic Upper Lake of Bhopal filled up to capacity in August itself and water had to be released repeatedly by opening the Bhadbhada Dam gates.

The Kaliasot and Kerwa dams have also filled to capacity and water is being regularly released from these dams too, to maintain the reservoir levels.

Rain to continue

Meanwhile, rain continues to lash different parts of flood-hit Madhya Pradesh and the RMC has sounded heavy rainfall alert for 13 districts for the next 24 hours. These districts are: Panna, Sagar, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Vidisha, Rajgarh, Raisen, Rewa, Satna, Narsinghpur, Hoshangabad, Harda and Khandwa.

Rainfall is expected to continue in most other parts of the state till September 23 due to presence of at least five weather systems on eastern and western coasts as well as over Madhya Pradesh, weather officials have said.

Flood situation

According to official information, 36 districts have been hit by floods during this season as the state has received 34 per cent excess rainfall till date. Bhopal has received 83 per cent excess showers, leading to new records of rain. The state government's preliminary estimates of flood related losses is Rs 10,000 crore. Over 220 lives have been lost in rain-related incidents.

The state government has already prepared an initial report on damages and crop loss and a central team is expected to survey the state on September 19 and 20.