Bhopal, known as the City of Lakes, is experiencing a troubling rise in drowning incidents. Police data reveals that 119 people have lost their lives in accidental drownings across major water bodies over the past three years, from 2023 to 2025. The victims drowned in Upper Lake, Lower Lake, Kerwa Dam, Kaliasot Dam, Hathaikheda Dam, Goda Pachad Dam, rural ponds, and water-filled quarries on the city outskirts.
Rising Numbers in 2025
This year alone, 11 accidental drowning deaths have been reported up to May 31. Police officials note that most incidents occur during the summer months when people enter lakes, dams, and ponds for bathing or recreation. The number of cases typically rises further during the monsoon season.
Suicide by Drowning
Apart from accidental drownings, 75 people have died by suicide after jumping into water bodies between 2023 and 2025. Between January and May this year, nine such suicide cases have been reported.
Shital Das Ki Bagiya: A Key Hotspot
Officials have identified Shital Das Ki Bagiya ghat on Upper Lake as one of the city's most accident-prone drowning hotspots. The ghat attracts large numbers of children, youths, and women daily for swimming and bathing. Despite the deployment of Bhopal Municipal Corporation divers who regularly warn visitors against entering deep water, people continue to ignore safety advisories.
The danger was highlighted on May 24 when Rahul Yadav, a resident of Roshanpura, drowned while bathing in the lake with friends. Officials said he slipped and sank into deep water and could not be rescued in time. Police said the ghat witnesses large gatherings every morning and evening, including minors learning to swim. In the absence of regulated access and adequate safety measures, the area has become highly vulnerable to accidents.
Three days later, on May 27, a 24-year-old man drowned while bathing in the Upper Lake near Suraj Nagar under Ratibad police station limits. Streams of Kerwa and Kaliasot Dams are also identified as drowning accident-prone hotspots where people visit in large numbers.
Quarries and Ponds on City Outskirts
Several water-filled quarries and ponds in Ratibad, Kajlikheda, Ayodhya Nagar, and adjoining areas have emerged as drowning hotspots. On May 27, a 12-year-old boy drowned in a pond at Kalapani village in Kajlikheda while bathing with friends.
In another tragic incident reported in April, a 17-year-old boy slipped into a pond at Daulatpura Thikriya village under Parwalia area. His 15-year-old cousin jumped in to save him, but both drowned. Family members managed to pull them out, but the boy had died and the girl succumbed while being taken to the hospital.
Police Measures and Advisories
Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said warning signboards have been installed at many water bodies across the city to alert people about the dangers of entering deep water. He said police would write to concerned agencies to install warning boards at locations where such signage is missing. He added that police teams regularly patrol areas around lakes, dams, and other water bodies and advise visitors not to enter the water where warning boards have been installed. Police would further intensify patrolling around water bodies to prevent drowning incidents and ensure compliance with safety advisories.
