A powerful rain system continues to bring widespread downpours across Madhya Pradesh, affecting more than 21 districts, including the capital Bhopal. The Meteorological Department reported that heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, lashed many parts of the state on Friday, leading to waterlogging, damage to infrastructure, and disruptions to daily life.
Several districts, including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Ujjain, Rewa, Satna, Khargone, Shahdol, Narmadapuram, Chhatarpur, and Mauganj, experienced intense rainfall. In Bhopal, a tree fell on the road near the 1100 Quarter Temple due to strong winds and rain, causing a traffic bottleneck. Similar weather-related disruptions were reported from other regions as well.
Rainfall data for the past 24 hours shows that Naugaon in Chhatarpur recorded 1 inch of rain on Friday, while Khirkiya in Harda saw the highest single-station rainfall of 5.2 inches. Udaynagar in Dewas and Meghnagar in Jhabua each recorded around 5 inches of rain, reflecting the intensity of the ongoing weather system. Narmadapuram district received the highest average rainfall of 2.7 inches. Other areas, such as Khandwa (2 inches), Ujjain (1.9 inches), Ratlam (1.8 inches), Khajuraho and Tikamgarh (1.3 inches each), also reported significant rainfall. Bhopal and Guna each received about 1 inch of rain.
Storms accompanied the rainfall in many areas, with Indore experiencing the highest wind gusts at 47 km/h. Gwalior recorded winds of 41 km/h, while Shivpuri had winds reaching 35 km/h, and other districts like Harda, Singrauli, Sehore, Sagar, and Shahdol recorded wind speeds around 30–31 km/h. These storms caused tree falls, power outages, and other disruptions across multiple districts.
In Mauganj and Mandsaur, heavy rains led to severe flooding in homes and streets, with water levels reaching up to 2 feet in low-lying areas. In one incident, an Activa rider fell into an open chamber pit on Station Road in Mandsaur due to overflowing water but was rescued by local residents. In Shahdol, rivers and streams overflowed due to the relentless rainfall, resulting in the closure of the Shahdol–Singhpur road after the Ponda drain flooded. Weekly markets across rural areas in Shahdol were also canceled due to the heavy rains.
Tragic Incident: Lightning Strike
A tragic lightning strike was reported in Shivrajpura village, Chhatarpur, where four farmers, who were sheltering from the rain in a hut, were struck by lightning. One farmer died on the spot, while the other three sustained injuries and were hospitalized.
Meteorologists attribute this extended spell of rainfall to an active trough stretching from the northeast Arabian Sea to the northwestern Bay of Bengal, passing through Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Additionally, a cyclonic circulation over northeast Madhya Pradesh is intensifying the weather activity. Senior meteorologist Dr. Divya E. Surendran stated that the weather systems remain strong and are expected to cause heavy rainfall across the state for the next five days.
Although the monsoon was delayed by a day in Madhya Pradesh, it quickly spread to all 55 districts within five days of its arrival on June 14. This year, the monsoon reached India eight days earlier than usual but remained stationary over Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh for nearly two weeks. Once it advanced, it rapidly covered the entire state, raising hopes of surpassing average rainfall figures for June.
Historical data shows fluctuating weather patterns across key districts. Bhopal recorded its highest June rainfall in the past decade, with 16 inches in 2020. Indore typically receives up to 20% of its annual rainfall in June and recorded historic storm speeds this year. Gwalior reached a scorching 47.8°C in June 2019 and recorded similar heat this year, with temperatures of 45.7°C in early June. Jabalpur, one of the earliest districts to receive monsoon rains, recorded over 10 inches last June. Ujjain continues its trend of steady rainfall, receiving between 2.5 to 8 inches in the same month in recent years.