The Meteorology Department issued forecast of heavy rains and thunderstorm in eastern parts of the State including Bhopal, Indore, Hoshangabad, Jabalpur and Sagar divisions in next 48 hours.
An alert has been issued by the Revenue Department to administration in concerned districts to meet any emergency arising out of heavy rainfall.
The Meteorological Department informed on Thursday that after a period of lull in monsoon activities, a marked low pressure area has developed over the Bay of Bengal and it is likely to move inwards causing heavy rains and thundershower. The intensity of rainfall is likely to increase remarkably from Saturday onwards.
Meanwhile, in last 24 hours Jabalpur recorded 19.2 mm rain, Bhopal recorded 8.6 mm rain and Gwalior recorded 6.4 mm rainfall. Sporadic showers were also recorded in many other parts of the State.
In the monsoon season so far, 415 mm rainfall has been registered in the State from June 1, which is 89 per cent more than the average. In eastern Madhya Pradesh, 429.9 mm rainfall has been registered against the average of 250.9 and western Madhya Pradesh 403.6 mm against the average of 194.9 mm. Except six districts of Balaghat, Anuppur, Dindori, Shahdol, Sheopur and Sidhi which have received normal rainfall, every other district of State has received above normal rains.
Sagar district registered maximum 726.9 mm rainfall, Khandwa 687.8 mm, Hoshangabad 671.4 mm, Narsinghpur 661.8 mm, Jabalpur 604.9 mm, Raisen 590.9 mm, Indore 596.2 mm, Damoh 583.5 mm and Bhopal district registered 467.6 mm. So far, excessive rains and floods have killed 18 people and 46 cattle heads and destroyed 5,932 houses and damaged crops.