Floods have struck Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Ashoknagar, and Guna districts in Madhya Pradesh following days of relentless rain. Rivers have overflowed, homes are submerged, and roads have been washed away.
Floods Submerge Homes and Roads
On Sunday, a pickup truck was swept away by the swollen Dhasan river in Chhatarpur. One man died in the incident. Two others broke the vehicle’s glass and escaped.
Fifteen gates of the Rangawan Dam in Khajuraho had to be opened. In Shivpuri, three young men were swept away while crossing a flooded drain on a bike. They clung to tree branches until locals pulled them out.
Meteorologist Arun Sharma said, “A monsoon trough and cyclonic circulation are active over Madhya Pradesh. Rain will continue for at least two more days, especially in the western regions.”
The situation remains serious across many villages. In Sehore’s Jholiapur village, floodwaters swept away four members of a family. One son was rescued. A search is underway for the others.
The weather department has issued a red alert for very heavy rain in nine districts. These include Neemuch, Guna, Ashoknagar, Rajgarh, Vidisha, Shivpuri, Sheopur, Agar-Malwa, and Mandsaur. These areas could receive up to eight inches of rainfall in 24 hours.
Other areas are also under orange or yellow alerts, with warnings of waterlogging, blocked roads, and overflowing rivers.
Schools Flooded, Roads Cut Off
In Ashoknagar, water filled the vegetable market on Aaron Road up to four feet. Traders lost most of their stock. In Tikamgarh, classrooms and the canteen of Navodaya Vidyalaya in Kundeshwar were flooded. Children were shifted to safer locations.
Roads in several districts have been cut off. In Khajuraho, the Devgaon-Devra road closed after a bridge collapsed. The Tikamgarh-Lalitpur road was also shut due to the rising Jamdar river.
Power outages have hit rural areas after six electric poles were swept away. In Tikamgarh’s Shiv Shakti Colony, water rose three feet inside homes.
Bijawar in Chhatarpur recorded 303 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. Tikamgarh got 215 mm. Orchha in Niwari recorded 199 mm. Other areas such as Mohangarh, Lidhora, and Baldevgarh also received over 190 mm.
In Rewa, heavy rain flooded homes in Sirmour Chowk and Bichhiya. Chitrakoot faced similar scenes. People used boats to move through waterlogged roads as the Mandakini river crossed danger levels.
“The situation is worse than we expected,” said Dr. Pramod Mishra, a senior meteorologist. “The pressure system near Jharkhand and the trough line over Uttar Pradesh are pushing rain deep into eastern Madhya Pradesh.”
Relief Camps Open, Crops Destroyed
The administration has set up relief camps in schools and evacuated low-lying areas. In Shahdol and Jabalpur, several dam gates were opened to release pressure as water levels rose in the Narmada, Tamsa, and Son rivers.
Shahdol Collector Jitendra Singh said, “We have opened relief centers and increased surveillance in vulnerable villages. Our teams are ready.”
In Rewa, many villagers are using tractor trolleys and boats to leave submerged homes. Floodwater has destroyed crops. Farmers worry about the financial blow.
Ramswaroop Patel, a farmer from Rewa, said, “We sowed paddy and moong. Now fish are swimming in our fields. First, we needed water. Now we are trying to stay alive.”
The state government has urged residents to stay indoors, avoid travel, and keep away from rivers and bridges. Emergency teams from the NDRF and SDRF are on alert across flood-hit regions.
The next 48 hours are critical. Rainfall is expected to continue. Authorities say the focus now is on rescue, shelter, and restoring damaged roads and power lines.
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