Bhopal has been under heavy rainfall since early Friday, with much of Madhya Pradesh facing a wet spell. Three weather systems are currently active across the state, triggering continuous downpours and flood risks in several districts.
According to the Meteorological Department, an orange alert has been issued for very heavy rainfall in Sheopur, Neemuch, and Mandsaur. In the next 24 hours, these areas could receive up to 8.5 inches of rain. A yellow alert has also been sounded for Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Rajgarh, Ratlam, Agar-Malwa, Anuppur, Dindori, Mandla, and Balaghat.
Senior scientist Dr. Divya E. Surendran explained why the state is seeing such relentless showers. “A monsoon trough is extending from Datia through Sidhi towards the Bay of Bengal. Another trough is moving across central Madhya Pradesh. Along with this, cyclonic circulation is active in the southern part of the state. These three systems together are driving the heavy rainfall,” she said.
On Thursday alone, 26 districts including Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain received rainfall. Waterfalls in Ratlam’s Kedareshwar Mahadev temple overflowed again, flooding temple premises for the third time this season. In Narmadapuram, seven of the 13 gates of the Tawa Dam had to be opened to release excess water.
Since the monsoon entered the state on June 16, Madhya Pradesh has received an average of 33.1 inches of rain. The expected amount by this time was 27 inches, which means the state has already recorded 6.1 inches more than normal. The total seasonal average is 37 inches, so rainfall has already reached 89 percent of that.
The distribution, though, has been uneven. Eastern districts such as Jabalpur, Rewa, Sagar, and Shahdol have seen above-normal showers. In Gwalior-Chambal, seven out of eight districts have already received more than their quota. Datia alone has recorded 92 percent of its seasonal average. On the other hand, nine districts in Indore and Ujjain divisions have not even received half their expected rainfall.
Dr. Surendran warned that heavy rainfall will likely continue for the next four days. “People in the alert zones should remain cautious. Low-lying areas may face flooding, and rivers could swell further,” she said.
Weather Forecast
| City | Temperature (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Bhopal | 26 | Heavy rain, cloudy |
| Indore | 25 | Moderate rain |
| Gwalior | 27 | Heavy rain |
| Morena | 28 | Heavy rain |
| Sheopur | 26 | Very heavy rain |
| Neemuch | 25 | Very heavy rain |
| Mandsaur | 25 | Very heavy rain |
| Ratlam | 24 | Heavy rain, overflow |
| Shivpuri | 26 | Heavy rain |
| Dindori | 25 | Moderate to heavy |
While residents in many regions welcome the rains after weeks of hot weather, the scale of water has already begun straining infrastructure. Overflowing dams, waterlogged roads, and risks to crops are raising concerns about the days ahead.
With alerts in place for 18 districts, authorities say they are monitoring water levels and asking people in flood-prone zones to stay alert. For now, much of Madhya Pradesh remains under grey skies and the sound of pouring rain.
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