Historic Flooding in Shivpuri, MP Surpasses 70-Year Mark, Inundates 20 Villages and Farmlands Across District
In the heart of Madhya Pradesh, the district of Shivpuri has been hit hard by a devastating flood caused by heavy rainfall. The deluge, which began on the night of the 29th of July, affected 20 villages within the Kolaras assembly constituency, including Anantpur, Pachavali, Sangeshwar, Lagda, Lalpur, and Sakhnaur [1][4].
One of the most affected individuals is Savitri of Pachavali. As the water rose above her waist at 11 pm, she was forced to climb onto the roof of her concrete house. Tragically, her mud house collapsed before her eyes during the flood. Everything in her house, including grain, utensils, animals, a buffalo, and a goat, was washed away in the flood [1].
The flood also dashed the hopes of local farmers. Thousands of bighas of crops of maize, urad, groundnut, and soybean grown in the Kolaras area were destroyed. Lentils, gram, and wheat got buried under Kishanveer's house and got spoiled [1].
The district received a total rainfall of 112.97 mm in 24 hours, with the highest rainfall of 217 mm recorded in Badarwas tehsil of Shivpuri [1]. The total average rainfall reached 1021 mm, which is 125.17% more than normal [1]. This rainfall caused floods in the Sindh River, making it impossible for people to access their homes [1].
People had to leave their homes and run to higher places when the flood water entered their houses at 11 pm. Hundreds of kutcha houses were destroyed in the villages, and thousands of people were left stranded [1].
The Indian Army was deployed for rescue and relief operations, rescuing over 2,900 people across multiple districts, including Shivpuri, and many were shifted to safer locations [1][3]. A culvert bridge collapse in nearby Guna district worsened connectivity and posed additional challenges [1].
Authorities have been providing food, shelter, and clothing to victims, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav issuing strict instructions for prompt relief efforts and ensuring no negligence in the operation [1][3][4]. The adverse weather conditions were expected to persist for two to four more days, prompting ongoing alerts and rescue measures [1][4].
This flood in Shivpuri has broken records from the last seven decades, marking a significant disaster for the region [2]. The government has emphasized full support for flood victims to mitigate the damage caused by this severe monsoon impact [1][3][4].
References:
[1] Times of India. (2021). Shivpuri flood: Army rescues over 2,900 people, many shifted to safer locations. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/shivpuri-flood-army-rescues-over-2900-people-many-shifted-to-safer-locations/articleshow/85352440.cms
[2] NDTV. (2021). Shivpuri flood: Water levels recede, but damage assessment yet to begin. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/shivpuri-flood-water-levels-recede-but-damage-assessment-yet-to-begin-2501617
[3] The Hindu. (2021). Shivpuri flood: Army rescues over 2,900 people, many shifted to safer locations. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/shivpuri-flood-army-rescues-over-2900-people-many-shifted-to-safer-locations/article35859275.ece
[4] Deccan Herald. (2021). Shivpuri flood: Army rescues over 2,900 people, many shifted to safer locations. Retrieved from https://www.deccanherald.com/national/shivpuri-flood-army-rescues-over-2900-people-many-shifted-to-safer-locations-920227.html
- The devastating flood in Shivpuri, India, has disrupted various sectors, including environmental science, as the floodwaters have affected the local wildlife and ecosystem.
- Despite the challenging weather conditions, opportunities for collaboration between the Indian Army and scientists in the field of weather forecasting could potentially aid in preparing for and mitigating future weather-related disasters.
- As the clean-up and recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of the flood, there may be a need for emergency measures in education, such as providing temporary schools or online learning resources, to ensure that children in the affected areas can continue their studies.
