A fierce heat wave has swept across Madhya Pradesh, forcing authorities to issue warnings in 16 districts on Thursday as temperatures climbed past 42 degrees Celsius in parts of the state for the first time this season.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) centre in Bhopal placed districts across the Indore-Ujjain, Narmadapuram, and Jabalpur divisions on alert. Officials warned that the intense heat will grip these regions for at least four more days.
Naugaon in Chhatarpur district recorded the state’s highest temperature at 42.4 degrees Celsius. Khajuraho followed closely at 42.2 degrees, while Ratlam touched 42 degrees. The readings marked a sharp seasonal shift after an unusually wet early April.
Across 25 cities, daytime temperatures hit 40 degrees or above on Wednesday, a first for the season. Indore and Gwalior both crossed the 40-degree mark, their hottest readings of the year so far. In response, the district administrations of Burhanpur, Harda, and Ratlam revised school timings to protect children from peak afternoon heat.
The districts under Thursday’s heat wave warning include Ratlam, Jhabua, Dhar, Alirajpur, Barwani, Khargone, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Harda, Narmadapuram, Betul, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Seoni, Mandla, and Balaghat.
The IMD noted that the second half of April is historically the hottest period of the year, comparable in intensity to the summer peaks of May. Unusually, rain, hailstorms, and thunderstorms dominated the first nine days of April across roughly 45 districts, delaying the heat surge by nearly two weeks. The dry conditions returned from April 10, and temperatures have climbed steadily since.
A weak weather system became active on April 16, but IMD officials said its effects will remain confined to the western Himalayan region and will bring no relief to Madhya Pradesh.
The weather department has issued a public health advisory urging residents to drink water regularly, avoid stepping out during afternoon hours, and wear lightweight, light-coloured cotton clothing. Authorities stressed extra caution for children and the elderly.
City-wise temperature and forecast
| City | Max Temp (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Naugaon (Chhatarpur) | 42.4 | Heat wave continues |
| Khajuraho | 42.2 | Heat wave continues |
| Ratlam | 42.0 | Heat wave warning |
| Narmadapuram | 41.8 | Heat wave warning |
| Mandla | 41.6 | Heat wave warning |
| Indore | 40.0 | Hot, no immediate relief |
| Gwalior | 40.2 | Hot, no immediate relief |
| Jabalpur | 39.9 | Hot, dry conditions |
| Bhopal | 39.5 | Hot, dry conditions |
| Ujjain | 39.7 | Hot, dry conditions |
The heat wave follows a turbulent February and March that brought four separate rain and hailstorm episodes to the state. Those events damaged crops of wheat, papaya, and banana across dozens of districts, triggering government surveys of agricultural losses.
With no significant rain system approaching, the IMD expects temperatures to remain elevated across central and eastern Madhya Pradesh through the coming week. Residents are advised to follow all heat safety guidelines until conditions ease.
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