Severe Thunderstorms and Rain Forecast for Several Districts in Madhya Pradesh
The Indian Meteorological Department warns of thunderstorms and rain in Madhya Pradesh, urging residents to take precautions.
Bhopal, October 19 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian Meteorological Department’s Bhopal center has issued a warning for several districts in Madhya Pradesh, including Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Datia, Ratangarh, Shyopur Kalna, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Niwari, and Orchha. Residents should prepare for thunderstorms, lightning, and rain.
Rainfall intensity is expected to remain below 5 mm per hour, with a less than 30% chance of lightning strikes reaching the ground. The weather center has advised the public to stay alert.
Potential impacts include waterlogging in low-lying urban areas with poor drainage, minor traffic disruptions due to reduced visibility, temporary power outages from lightning, and possible damage to weak or temporary structures, crops, and plants.
Officials recommend that people remain indoors or under sturdy roofs during thunderstorms, avoid standing under trees or in open fields, unplug electrical devices, drive cautiously during light rain, and exercise care when navigating flooded roads.
This advisory comes as some cities continue to cope with the aftermath of heavy monsoon rains that have severely affected daily life. On Friday, sudden heavy rainfall led to significant waterlogging, traffic jams, and disruptions in civic and medical services.
According to the regional meteorological office, Bhopal recorded nearly 100 mm of rain within 24 hours up to 11:30 AM on October 16, a stark increase compared to 35 mm on Thursday and 42 mm on Wednesday. Neighboring districts like Hoshangabad, Raisen, and Vidisha also experienced moderate to heavy rainfall throughout the week.
To address the flooding, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation has deployed suction trucks and portable pumps. The mayor confirmed that all departments are on high alert and emergency protocols have been activated. However, ongoing rainfall has delayed drainage efforts.
While the rainfall’s impact has been limited across most of the state, Guna recorded significant rainfall of 115.6 mm in the past 24 hours. Other areas, such as Khandwa and Rajgarh, saw 11.0 mm and 3.0 mm of rain, respectively, while many locations remained dry.
