Bhopal’s Upper Lake Water Level Reaches Decade High After Exceptional Monsoon Season

Bhopal’s iconic Upper Lake — the largest urban lake in India — has recorded its highest water level in over a decade following an exceptionally strong monsoon season in Madhya Pradesh. The lake, also known as Bada Talab, reached 1666.80 feet above mean sea level, exceeding last year’s peak by nearly 3 feet.

The development has brought relief to the city’s water supply department, which draws nearly 45 percent of Bhopal’s drinking water from the lake. Officials from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation said water rationing, which had been in place during the lean summer months, will now be relaxed significantly.

However, low-lying areas near Shahpura and Kotra Sultanabad have reported localised flooding, prompting evacuation of over 200 families by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). National Disaster Response Force teams are also on standby.

Environmentalists have welcomed the development but cautioned that unregulated encroachment in the lake’s catchment area remains a long-term threat. The Van Vihar National Park adjacent to the lake received above-normal rainfall, with park officials confirming sightings of several animals venturing closer to the periphery due to rising water levels inside the forest.