Bhopal: Children Reach School in Heavy Rain, Holiday Order Arrives Too Late

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal has been witnessing incessant, heavy rainfall since Sunday afternoon, with waterlogging reported on most roads, particularly in the old city area. Low-lying localities have also seen daily life disrupted due to the accumulation of water.

Taking note of the heavy rain situation, the district administration declared a holiday for all government and private schools, from nursery to Class 12, falling within the municipal corporation limits. However, the peculiar twist to the order was that by the time the education department issued it and the notice reached schools, students across the city had already struggled through the downpour to reach their classrooms.

In effect, the holiday order was issued around the time schools were due to begin. As a result, several schools sent children who had made it in back home given the holiday order, even as heavy rain continued, while some schools decided to go ahead with classes — reasoning that since children had already braved the rain to arrive, it made more sense to hold lessons than send them back out into the same ordeal. The hope, presumably, was that the rain would ease and waterlogging would improve by the time the school day ended. Meanwhile, a large number of parents, having seen the deteriorating conditions from the morning downpour, had already chosen to keep their children home on their own.

Water Up to Knee-Level

The city has been receiving continuous rainfall for the past 20–22 hours, with the downpour continuing across Bhopal since Monday morning as well. On VIP Road, strong winds and rain brought down a tree, causing a traffic jam that lasted for hours. Vehicles were seen crawling along several roads in the city. Amid the relentless rain, many low-lying areas of Bhopal have witnessed waterlogging, with knee-deep water entering several homes and parking areas, causing considerable hardship for residents.

Where Things Stand Across the City

Movement on Bhopal's roads has been affected as water continues to collect amid the ongoing rain. In Shivnagar, two-wheelers were seen submerged in rainwater. Basements of apartment complexes in Kolar were flooded, and rainwater also entered several homes in the old parts of Bhopal. The images of waterlogging have exposed the gaps in the municipal corporation's claims of adequate drainage and monsoon preparedness.