Heavy rain continues to batter Madhya Pradesh as the Meteorological Department issued an alert for 14 districts on Monday. Four districts, Dewas, Harda, Khandwa and Burhanpur, are expected to receive very heavy rainfall within 24 hours.
A 27-year-old youth lost his life in Khargone on Sunday after being swept away in the Ruparel river. Local police confirmed the incident and urged residents to stay away from swollen rivers.
“Water levels are rising fast in many rivers. People must avoid crossing streams or flooded areas,” said Rajesh Chauhan, Khargone’s Additional Superintendent of Police.
Heavy Rain Alert in MP
The rain has disrupted daily life in several towns. In Barwani’s Sendhwa and Niwali, colonies were submerged. Traffic slowed down at Bijasan Ghat on the Mumbai-Agra highway after waterlogging. Dhar’s Pithampur also reported heavy showers, while Sheopur residents said the downpour brought relief from heat and humidity.
In contrast, Bhopal saw sunshine on Sunday, leaving residents grappling with humidity. Light showers occurred in Datia, Guna, Narmadapuram, Damoh and Jabalpur. Khandwa alone recorded nearly 10 cm of rainfall.
Senior Weather Scientist Dr. Divya E. Surendran explained that a low-pressure system is driving the rain activity. “The system is active in the southern part of the state. Its impact will continue for the next two to three days,” she said.
Since the arrival of the monsoon on June 16, Madhya Pradesh has recorded 31.3 inches of rainfall. This is 6.1 inches above the expected level of 25.2 inches for this period. The state’s average annual rainfall stands at 37 inches.
More Rain, Flood Risk Ahead
The heaviest rain so far has been recorded in Mandla and Guna, where the figure crossed 47 inches. Niwari received 46 inches, Tikamgarh 45.5 inches and Ashoknagar 43.6 inches. Officials said the Gwalior-Chambal region has received surplus rainfall, with seven out of eight districts crossing their quota.
But Indore and Ujjain divisions remain below normal. Nine out of 15 districts in these two divisions have received less than half of their expected rainfall.
Meteorological Centre scientist P.K. Raikwar said another low-pressure system is forming in the Bay of Bengal. “It may strengthen into a depression and bring more rain across Madhya Pradesh. The impact will continue at least till August 24,” he said.
Residents in flood-prone areas expressed worry about the coming days. “We are already seeing waterlogging in colonies. If the rain continues like this, it will be hard to move around,” said Sunil Patel, a shopkeeper in Harda.
Authorities have kept emergency teams on alert. State disaster response units have been asked to monitor rivers and dams closely.
Forecast for key cities
| City | Temperature (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Bhopal | 32 | Humid, light rain |
| Indore | 30 | Heavy rain |
| Jabalpur | 31 | Showers |
| Gwalior | 33 | Cloudy, mild rain |
| Khargone | 29 | Heavy rain |
| Khandwa | 28 | Very heavy rain |
| Dewas | 28 | Very heavy rain |
| Harda | 29 | Very heavy rain |
| Burhanpur | 27 | Very heavy rain |
| Sheopur | 31 | Heavy rain |
| Dhar | 30 | Heavy rain |
| Sehore | 31 | Heavy rain |
| Betul | 28 | Heavy rain |
| Chhindwara | 29 | Heavy rain |
The Meteorological Department has urged caution over the next three days as the low-pressure system continues to affect central and western parts of the state.
“We are likely to see repeated spells of heavy rain. People should follow advisories and avoid unnecessary travel,” said weather expert Ajay Shukla.
For now, residents are bracing for more rain, while districts like Dewas, Harda, Khandwa and Burhanpur remain under the highest alert.
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