Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Bhadbhada Dam Opens Gates as Heavy Rain Fills Bhopal Lake
Bhopal has received heavy rain since Thursday night.
The rain filled the city’s Upper Lake to its highest planned level.
Because the water kept rising, officials opened two gates at Bhadbhada Dam on Saturday.
One gate opened at about 1:15 p.m., and another opened less than an hour later.
Officials had also operated other gates during Friday night and Saturday morning.
Some roads and low-lying parts of the city were affected by water.
The administration issued an alert for low-lying areas.
Weather officials warned that more heavy rain could come to Madhya Pradesh.
Bhadbhada Dam opened Gates 9 and 2 on Saturday as heavy rain continued for a third day.
Gate 9 opened around 1:15 p.m., followed by Gate 2 at approximately 2:10 p.m.
The Upper Lake reached its Full Tank Level of 1,666.8 feet amid continuous rainfall.
Bhopal Municipal Corporation officials had also opened and closed other dam gates between Friday night and Saturday morning.
Waterlogging, damaged road sections, and impacts on low-lying areas were reported, while more heavy rain was forecast.
- Who
- Bhopal Municipal Corporation officials operated the Bhadbhada Dam gates; the National Green Tribunal’s Bhoj Wetland demarcation team conducted a drone survey.
- What
- Two Bhadbhada Dam gates were opened as rising water brought the Upper Lake to its Full Tank Level.
- When
- Saturday, September 5, 2026; heavy rain had continued since Thursday night.
- Where
- Bhadbhada Dam and the Upper Lake in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- The Upper Lake reached its Full Tank Level of 1,666.8 feet while continued rain caused the dam’s water level to rise.
- Dam
- Bhadbhada Dam
- Gates opened Saturday
- Gate 9 at about 1:15 p.m.; Gate 2 at about 2:10 p.m.
- Upper Lake level
- Full Tank Level of 1,666.8 feet
- Rainfall
- About 20 millimeters recorded by Friday evening
- Rain duration
- Continuous rainfall since Thursday night, continuing for a third day
- Local impacts
- Waterlogging, affected low-lying areas, and damaged road sections
- Forecast
- The Meteorological Department warned of more heavy rain in Madhya Pradesh