📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Francesco Bini
Weather
Drought hits Ratlam as rainfall drops to 23 inches, Dhola Ward dam water release halted
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 24 Sep 2026, 03:15 PM
👁 8
Ratlam recorded only 23 inches of rain this year against the normal 35.15 inches, prompting authorities to stop water releases from the Dhola Ward dam, now only 45% full.
The central Indian city of Ratlam has received just 23 inches of rainfall this season, far below the average 35.15 inches recorded for the same period. The shortfall has intensified drought conditions across the district, affecting agricultural lands that depend on monsoon rains.
The Dhola Ward dam, a key source of irrigation water for the region, is currently only 45 percent full. In response, the water‑management authorities have suspended further releases for irrigation to conserve the limited reservoir capacity.
Farmers in the surrounding areas warn that the reduced water supply could jeopardize crop sowing and yield, urging the state government to consider emergency measures such as water tankers or alternative irrigation schemes.
State officials have acknowledged the situation and are monitoring rainfall trends closely, while also evaluating the possibility of releasing water if the dam’s level improves in the coming weeks.
The drought scenario underscores the broader challenges of water scarcity in central India, where fluctuating monsoon patterns increasingly strain both agriculture and local livelihoods.
The Dhola Ward dam, a key source of irrigation water for the region, is currently only 45 percent full. In response, the water‑management authorities have suspended further releases for irrigation to conserve the limited reservoir capacity.
Farmers in the surrounding areas warn that the reduced water supply could jeopardize crop sowing and yield, urging the state government to consider emergency measures such as water tankers or alternative irrigation schemes.
State officials have acknowledged the situation and are monitoring rainfall trends closely, while also evaluating the possibility of releasing water if the dam’s level improves in the coming weeks.
The drought scenario underscores the broader challenges of water scarcity in central India, where fluctuating monsoon patterns increasingly strain both agriculture and local livelihoods.