Bhopal witnessed heavy downpours on Wednesday night, with 2.5 inches of rain recorded between 7:30 pm and 11:30 pm. The Big Pond overflowed once again, forcing officials to open one gate of the Bhadbhada dam at night. This was the fourth time in the season that the dam’s gates had to be lifted.
The state has so far received 42.7 inches of rainfall during this monsoon season. That is 7 inches above the normal quota of 35.6 inches. The Meteorological Department said the excess rain came despite the monsoon already beginning to retreat from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana.
“Two cyclonic circulations and one trough are driving rainfall across parts of Madhya Pradesh,” said Arun Sharma, senior meteorologist. “In the next 24 hours, a new system may get active, and fresh rain will follow.”
Rain in 13 Districts
On Wednesday, 13 districts recorded rain. Rewa and Satna logged 1.75 inches, Tikamgarh 1.25 inches, and Chhindwara over half an inch. Rainfall also hit Gwalior, Pachmarhi, Khajuraho, Naugaon, Sidhi, Narmadapuram, Shajapur, Pandhurna, and Dindori.
In Indore, evening showers caused waterlogging. Roads in Vijay Nagar were under two feet of water. In Seoni, four gates of the Sanjay Sarovar Dam had to be opened. In Pandhurna, the Jam river overflowed due to heavy rain.
The weather office said there is no alert for heavy rainfall in the next four days, but light showers may occur in districts such as Bhopal and Jabalpur. Still, scientists believe another wet spell could mark the monsoon’s farewell.
“The retreat is underway, but local systems can trigger sudden downpours,” said Sharma.
The season has been uneven across divisions. Indore and Ujjain reported lower-than-normal rainfall, while Jabalpur, Rewa, Sagar, and Shahdol divisions received heavy showers.
Chhatarpur, Mandla, Tikamgarh, and Umaria districts saw flooding. In Gwalior-Chambal, all eight districts exceeded their quotas. Gwalior, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Bhind, Morena, Datia, and Sheopur all reported more rainfall than expected.
According to official data, Guna recorded the highest rainfall at 65 inches. Mandla received 59 inches, Sheopur 56.3 inches, Ashoknagar 54.7 inches, and Shivpuri 54.5 inches. Khargone was the driest with 26 inches.
Weather Across Madhya Pradesh
| City | Temp (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Bhopal | 28 | Light rain, cloudy |
| Indore | 27 | Showers, waterlogging risk |
| Gwalior | 30 | Partly cloudy, drizzle |
| Jabalpur | 29 | Cloudy, chance of rain |
| Rewa | 28 | Rain possible |
| Satna | 28 | Rain possible |
| Khargone | 31 | Hot, light drizzle |
| Mandla | 27 | Showers likely |
The monsoon entered Madhya Pradesh on June 16. Since then, the state has crossed its normal seasonal average of 37 inches. The weather department expects the withdrawal to reach parts of Madhya Pradesh by the end of September.
In Bhopal, residents welcomed the showers but also worried about flooding. “The rain is good for crops, but the drains overflow every time. We need better planning,” said Shalini Verma, a shopkeeper near New Market.
The uneven pattern has raised concerns among farmers. While some districts reported healthy crop growth, areas with less rainfall fear damage to yields.
Meteorologists say that while the season is nearing its end, “another round of heavy rain during retreat cannot be ruled out.”
For now, Madhya Pradesh stands 7 inches above its seasonal average, a surplus that has brought relief to some but also challenges for urban and rural areas alike
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