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Very heavy rain alert issued in MP as Narmada River crosses danger mark. Photo credit: Ground Report
Heavy rains have triggered flood fears across Madhya Pradesh. The Narmada River is flowing above the danger mark in Mandla. Two youths drowned in Mandsaur on Monday. Roads, rivers, and bridges have flooded in multiple districts. Seven districts are under an orange alert for very heavy rain today.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of up to 8 inches of rainfall in Narmadapuram, Betul, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Seoni, Mandla, and Balaghat in the next 24 hours.
“This system is strong and active,” said Dr. Divya E. Surendran, Senior Meteorologist at IMD Bhopal. “The monsoon trough is passing through central Madhya Pradesh, and a low-pressure area from West Bengal is also affecting the region. Heavy rainfall will continue till July 11.”
On Monday, it rained across more than 30 districts. Seoni received two and a half inches of rainfall in just nine hours. Bhopal saw a mix of heavy showers and drizzles throughout the day, causing a 3-kilometer traffic jam from MP Nagar to Narmadapuram Road.
In Mandla, the Narmada rose to 438.10 meters, breaching the danger level. Authorities closed Narmada Ghats and bridges. A biker was swept away while trying to cross a flooded road near the Pal Amanala bypass. Two others with him narrowly escaped.
In Mandsaur, two young men from Rajasthan drowned in Gandhisagar Dam. They were on a picnic trip to Bhanpura from Kota. Police recovered their bodies on Monday.
The situation is worsening in Dindori. The Dhamani-Kusera road built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana just three years ago was washed out by floodwaters. Heavy vehicles are now banned on that route.
Sehore's rivers, such as Parvati and Papanash, are overflowing. A near-fatal accident occurred when a driver ignored warnings and tried to cross a flooded bridge. Locals pulled him out after his car stalled mid-stream.
In Itarsi, markets and police stations were waterlogged. In Balaghat, several villages have been cut off as roads have become impassable.
According to the IMD, the current spell of heavy rainfall will continue over the next three days, with varying intensity across districts.
Weather forecast
| Date | Very Heavy Rain Alert | Heavy Rain Alert |
|---|---|---|
| 8 July | Narmadapuram, Betul, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat | Sehore, Harda, Raisen, Sagar, Narsinghpur, Damoh, Jabalpur, Chhatarpur, Panna, Katni, Dindori, Umaria |
| 9 July | Sidhi, Shahdol, Anuppur, Dindori, Mandla, Balaghat, Seoni, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Narmadapuram, Betul | Burhanpur, Khandwa, Harda, Sehore, Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Narsinghpur, Sagar, Guna, Ashoknagar, Gwalior, Shivpuri, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Damoh, Jabalpur, Panna, Katni, Umaria, Maihar, Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Singrauli |
| 10 July | Damoh, Panna, Katni, Umaria, Maihar, Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Sidhi, Singrauli | Gwalior, Sheopur, Datia, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Vidisha, Dewas, Khandwa, Harda, Sehore, Sagar, Raisen, Narmadapuram, Betul, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Balaghat, Seoni, Jabalpur, Mandla, Dindori, Anuppur, Shahdol, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur |
| 11 July | — | Sheopur, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Vidisha, Raisen, Sagar, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Panna, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Maihar, Rewa, Mauganj |
Dr. Surendran said, “The impact will be more visible in the eastern part of the state. People living in low-lying areas should stay alert.”
Flood-like conditions are already developing in Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, and Jabalpur. In many of these places, rivers like Surpan, Banjar, and Matiyari are overflowing.
Schools and Anganwadi centers were shut on Monday in Mandla, Umaria, Balaghat, Dindori, Jabalpur, and Anuppur as a precaution.
The IMD has also warned of gusty winds up to 40 kilometers per hour in some districts. Authorities are keeping watch on dams and have released water from gates at Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station in Umaria.
With more rain on the way, officials are advising residents to avoid flooded roads and riverbanks. Emergency teams are on standby.
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