Bhopal floods after record 7-inch rain, civic plans exposed

The Story in Brief

Bhopal received nearly 7 inches of rain in 24 hours on Monday, the highest single-day fall this season, causing widespread flooding and traffic jams. The BMC deployed 50 pumps and over 1,200 staff, but waterlogged roads paralysed areas including Kolar Road, Hoshangabad Road, Karond, and Old Bhopal. The Banganga bridge on Berasia Road was closed after water overflowed. District collector Priyank Mishra acknowledged flood-like conditions. The administration is on high alert. Upper Lake rose three feet in two days, reaching 1663.20 ft, below its full tank level of 1666.8 ft.

Water entered low-lying colonies and apartment basements in Vasundhara Colony, Aishbag, and Jumerati. The BMC received 19 to 26 flood calls in 12 hours on Monday and more than 30 calls on Tuesday. Civic teams evacuated residents in Udiya Basti and distributed 3,000 food packets. Free Press Journal reports that the worst-affected areas lie near ongoing Metro Rail and NHAI projects, raising questions about drainage coordination between civic agencies.