As summer tightens its grip, Madhya Pradesh is battling one of its harshest heatwaves of the season, with large swathes of the state recording dangerously high temperatures. On Wednesday, the mercury soared to a blistering 44°C in several regions, as the heatwave continued unabated for the third consecutive day, leaving residents sweltering and public health officials on alert.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heatwave warnings for numerous districts, including Burhanpur, Khandwa, Ratlam, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Anuppur, Chhindwara, Balaghat, Panna, Damoh, Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, and Pandhurna. The forecast suggests that these regions will continue to experience extreme temperatures in the days ahead.
Eastern Madhya Pradesh remains the most severely impacted, with all districts in the region reporting daytime temperatures above 41°C—notably higher than those in the western part of the state. The intense heat has rendered outdoor activity nearly unbearable, raising concerns over heat-related illnesses and prompting warnings from health and disaster management authorities.
No rainfall was recorded anywhere in the state over the past 24 hours, as dry and arid conditions prevailed throughout.
Direct heatwave conditions were confirmed in Ratlam and Chhindwara, while several other districts remained in the grip of unrelenting heat, with minimal fluctuations in temperature.
Temperature deviations from the seasonal average were significant across key divisions. In Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Ujjain, Gwalior, Rewa, Shahdol, and Sagar, day temperatures were 2.3°C to 3.0°C above normal. The situation was even more acute in Jabalpur division, where temperatures exceeded the seasonal norm by 3.5°C, making it one of the hottest zones in the state.
Night temperatures showed moderate variation. Shahdol division reported a drop of 2.9°C below normal, while the Bhopal division recorded a decline of 1.6°C. In the rest of the state, nighttime conditions remained largely within the normal range.
As the heatwave shows no signs of subsiding and with May approaching, authorities are advising the public to adopt preventive measures, including avoiding exposure to the sun during peak hours, staying hydrated, and checking on vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions.