Administrative Correspondent, Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh has been experiencing continuous rainfall for two days, particularly in the western part of the state. As a result, the Meteorological Department has issued heavy rain alerts across several districts, including those in the Malwa and Nimar regions.
The alert covers 23 districts, such as Ratlam, Jhabua, Chhindwara, Seoni, Ujjain, and areas within the Indore division. Due to the persistent rain, rivers like Shipra, Chambal, and Mahi are swollen. The department also predicts further heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours. Showers have been lashing capital Bhopal and neighbouring districts for the pasdt over 24 hours.
Districts under red and orange alerts
The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rain in several districts, including Dewas, Indore, Barwani, Khargone, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Dhar, Ujjain, and Ratlam. An orange alert has also been declared in Mandsaur, Agar Malwa, Shahjahanpur, and Sehore.
The forecast indicates that the strong monsoon system will remain active in West Madhya Pradesh on August 25 and 26, bringing substantial rainfall to the region. However, the system is expected to weaken and move forward starting August 26. Following this forecast, local administrations in Ratlam, Mandsaur, and Jhabua have issued advisories, urging residents and tourists to exercise caution around water sources and waterlogged areas.
Railway operations hit on the Delhi-Mumbai Route
The continuous heavy rain has also impacted railway operations, particularly on the Delhi-Mumbai route. On Saturday night, soil erosion beneath the railway tracks on the Ratlam Railway Division’s line caused a significant disruption. The up line remained closed for about six hours, affecting approximately 15 passenger trains. Fortunately, train movement continued on the down line during this period.
The soil erosion occurred around 10:00 PM between Mangalmahudi and Limkheda stations in the Godhra section, leading to the suspension of operations on the up line.
The damage to the railway track was quickly identified by a night patrolman, preventing any potential accidents. Despite the significant disruption, the railway maintenance team worked swiftly, repairing the affected track in just six hours. By 4:00 AM, train movement had resumed on the repaired section, albeit with speed restrictions. This rapid response was crucial, given the importance of the Delhi-Mumbai railway route.
