Unseasonal rain and dust storms lash Madhya Pradesh during Nautapa, leaving two dead in Neemuch and causing mercury to plummet drastically in Sheopur.

A sudden spell of severe dust storms, heavy rainfall, and isolated hailstorms across half of Madhya Pradesh has dramatically disrupted the intense summer heat, causing a massive drop in day and night temperatures. The intense weather shift, coming right during the traditional 'Nautapa' period, brought welcome relief from the heat but left a trail of destruction, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries across multiple districts.

Tragedy strikes Neemuch district

In a tragic incident reported from Singoli in the Neemuch district on Monday night, a mother and her son were killed when the roof of their dilapidated house collapsed under the impact of heavy rain and strong winds. The deceased have been identified as Sosar Bai Dhanotia and her son, Nilesh Dhanotia. Local sources confirmed that Nilesh worked as a newspaper distributor in the area. Following the incident, the local administration announced a total financial assistance of Rs 9 lakh for the grieving family.

Mercury tumbles in Sheopur

According to weather officials, the most dramatic temperature drop was recorded in Sheopur, where the night temperature plunged by a staggering 9.6 degrees Celsius in a single night. Registering a minimum temperature of 15.4 degrees Celsius, Sheopur surprisingly turned out to be colder than Pachmarhi, the state's lone hill station, which usually retains the lowest temperature during this season.

Widespread destruction and injuries

The severe weather system brought heavy winds that uprooted trees and damaged properties in several areas. In Dewas district, a violent dust storm ripped away the tin roofs of houses. In Marethi village under Rupakhedi, the flying tin sheets injured nearly six to seven members of a family. Local reports indicate the winds were strong enough to throw the heavy sheets nearly 500 meters away, destroying stored grains and household items. Similar disruptions were reported from Mandsaur, where a falling tree killed livestock, and in Morena, where the Kailaras town witnessed prolonged late-night showers.

Regional temperature variations

The Meteorological Department data showed significant rainfall across various pockets, with Satna receiving nearly an inch of rain, Betul three-fourths of an inch, and Sheopur recording over half an inch. Major urban centers also witnessed a dip in night temperatures, with Bhopal and Indore recording 22 degrees Celsius and 22.1 degrees Celsius respectively, while Ujjain dropped to 21 degrees Celsius. While the Gwalior-Chambal region continues to face humid conditions and strong sunshine during the daytime, the nights have turned noticeably cooler, providing much-needed respite to the locals.

Heavy wind alert issued

The current weather shift is expected to persist over the next few hours. The Meteorological Department has issued a fresh alert for 13 districts in the state, warning of lightning strikes and high-speed squalls. Districts including Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Sidhi, Maihar, Singrauli, Shahdol, Anuppur, Mandla, Dindori, Jabalpur, Umaria, and Katni are likely to experience gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 km/h or more. Residents have been advised to stay indoors during the peak hours of the alert.