The Narmada river is in spate. All of Narmada’s tributaries- the Tawa, Sher, Shakkar and the Dudhi are also flooded. Incessant rainfall in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh has affected train services in Bhopal division of West Central Railway.
Responding to a query on the flood situation in Bhopal division, Uday Borwanker, Divisional Railway Manager said “There has been temporary regulation of trains at night due to water level above danger mark at some bridges including Narmada bridge. We are in constant touch with the district administration in all districts regarding water being released at the dams. Our staff is keeping a watch at all critical and vulnerable locations round the clock. Relief trains with material are stationed at strategic locations.
“ Alert railway staff detected water overflow from the ghats and repaired it at night,” he added.
Two trains -Pushpak special (train number 024350 and train number 02542 (LTT Gorakhpur have been diverted via Jabalpur.
The hydrograph of the Narmada near Hoshangabad and at Handia near Harda are proof of the flooding that has happened along the Narmada river basin.
Sluice gates of dam reservoirs along the course of the Narmada and its tributaries have been opened inundating several areas along the course.
For instance, gates of the Tawa dam reservoir, Narmada’s largest tributary has been opened. So have been opened several gates of the Bargi dam reservoir near Jabalpur and the Indira Sagar dam reservoir near Harda.
Rail Bridges on the Narmada
There are bridges at five locations on the Narmada as on date. They are between Ankleshwar and Bharuch; Omkareshwar Road and Barwaha; Hoshangabad and Budhni; Bhitoni and Bheraghat; and Guwarighat and Bargi.
When the Indira Sagar dam was constructed near Harda in Madhya Pradesh the back waters flooded the railway alignment between Khandwa and Harda.
Hence the alignment between Talvadya and Khirkiya was re-routed via Chhanera and Barud. As a result, the railway station of Bir became the terminus of the erstwhile alignment as the old alignment between Bir and Khirkiya was submerged by the backwaters.