The temporary diversion route across the Parvati River connecting Bhopal and Rajgarh districts has been closed to traffic after rising water levels submerged the crossing following continuous rainfall. The restriction came into effect late Monday night after the local administration declared the route unsafe for commuters.

Berasia Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ashutosh Sharma issued the order, citing a sharp increase in the river's water level that has inundated the temporary alternative road constructed in the middle of the river on the Berasia–Narsinghgarh route.

According to the administration, the strong water current has made movement across the diversion highly dangerous, prompting authorities to suspend all vehicular and pedestrian traffic until further orders.

Safety Measures Ordered

The SDM has directed concerned departments to immediately install barricades, warning boards and safety signages around the restricted area to prevent people from attempting to cross the flooded route.

Officials have also been instructed to ensure continuous monitoring of the site as long as the restriction remains in force.

Departments Asked to Maintain Vigil

To enforce the order, responsibilities have been assigned to the Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, Janpad Panchayat officials, the Public Works Department (PWD) and the local police.

The administration has asked officials to maintain round-the-clock surveillance and deploy security personnel wherever required. Citizens will also be guided towards safer alternative routes to avoid any untoward incident during the ongoing monsoon.

Authorities have warned that anyone violating the restriction will face legal action under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, along with other applicable laws.

Diversion Was Created After Bridge Damage

The temporary route has been serving as an alternative since the 49-year-old Parvati River bridge on the Berasia–Narsinghgarh road developed structural damage earlier this year.

The bridge, originally built in 1976, reportedly sank at one location on January 17, 2025, forcing the administration to prohibit traffic over it. Subsequently, water from the nearby stop dam was released and a temporary diversion route was constructed to restore connectivity.

Until the recent spell of heavy rainfall, buses, trucks, cars and two-wheelers had been using the diversion. However, the rising river level has now rendered it unsafe.

Repeated Incidents Raised Safety Concerns

The temporary crossing has witnessed several accidents over the past year. During the previous monsoon season, a passenger bus tilted while attempting to cross the flooded diversion. In another incident, a tractor-trolley fell into the stop dam after slipping off the temporary road. Although all four occupants escaped safely, the incidents highlighted the risks associated with the route during heavy rainfall.

Officials said the latest closure has been ordered to prevent similar accidents as the Parvati River continues to swell.

Vital Link Between Several Districts

The Parvati River bridge, located near Meghra Navin village in Bhopal district and connecting to Baraytha village in Rajgarh district, is an important transport corridor linking Bhopal with Rajgarh, Guna, Vidisha, Shivpuri, Ashoknagar, Agar Malwa, Shajapur, Indore and Ujjain.

The route also provides connectivity to the Agra–Mumbai National Highway, making it one of the region's key transport links.

Before the bridge developed structural issues, an estimated 1.5 to 2 lakh commuters used the route daily. Since the bridge was closed and traffic shifted to the temporary diversion, daily movement has reduced significantly to around 8,000–10,000 commuters.

Authorities have advised travellers to avoid the flooded stretch and follow designated alternative routes until water levels recede and the administration lifts the restriction.

In the 135th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the women of Biaora in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district for turning plastic waste into a tool for beautifying the town.

The Prime Minister said most people want their surroundings to be clean and attractive, but many assume that cleaning is someone else’s responsibility. He highlighted how these women took ownership of the problem instead of waiting for others to act.

According to the Prime Minister, the women began collecting plastic waste and empty bottles from across the town on their own initiative. Over time, they started converting the waste into eco-bricks, which are now being used to improve public spaces and add beauty to the town.

Modi said that in the past few months, hundreds of kilograms of plastic have been recycled in Rajgarh and put to productive use. He noted that what once caused pollution is now helping enhance the visual appeal of the city.

He congratulated the women of Biaora and everyone associated with the campaign, calling it an inspiring example of community-driven environmental action.

A shocking case of vigilante justice has emerged from Kharparas village in Rajgarh district, where a young man accused of robbing an elderly woman was tied up, brutally assaulted, and branded with a red-hot iron wire by villagers.

The incident, which took place on Wednesday morning, came to light after mobile clips of the torture were widely circulated on social media. Taking swift cognizance of the video evidence, the Kalipith police have registered an FIR against several villagers under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Midnight Robbery Targets 90-Year-Old Woman

According to police sources, the sequence of events began late Tuesday night around 11:00 PM. The suspect, identified as Govind Verma, allegedly broke into the residence of Jatan Bai Sondhiya, a 90-year-old woman who was sleeping alone at the time.

Verma reportedly managed to unfasten a pair of heavy silver anklets (payal) from the elderly woman's feet. However, as he attempted to aggressively pull off her silver bangles, the victim woke up and raised an alarm. Startled by her screams, the suspect fled into the darkness before neighbors could gather.

Brutal Retaliation Captured on Camera

The news of the midnight burglary spread rapidly across Kharparas village by early Wednesday morning. Forming search parties, local residents managed to track down Verma in the vicinity and brought him back to the village square.

The situation escalated into extreme violence as a mob gathered. Verma's hands were bound with ropes as villagers took turns thrashing him.

The viral footage shows a young local woman emerging from a house carrying a heavily heated iron wire, which she used to repeatedly brand the suspect's leg as he writhed and screamed in agony.

Later, the crowd tied Verma to the chassis of a tractor-trolley for prolonged interrogation before finally handing him over to a police team.

Cross-FIRs Registered; Investigation Escalated to SDOP Level

The police have taken action against both sides involved in the conflict. Based on the initial complaint lodged by the elderly victim, a robbery and house-trespass case was registered against Govind Verma. Investigators have successfully recovered the stolen silver anklets from his possession.

However, subsequent verification revealed that Verma belongs to a Scheduled Caste community. Following the emergence of the torture videos, police registered a cross-case against the vigilante mob.

Legal Action Matrix:

├── Against Suspect (Govind Verma): House-trespass & Robbery charges; silver recovery complete.

└── Against Mob (Devraj, Lakhan & 2 others): SC-ST Act invocation, unlawful confinement, & causing grievous hurt.

"We have booked four residents, including individuals named Devraj and Lakhan, under the SC-ST Act and sections pertaining to assault. Given the sensitive nature of the case and the caste-based angles involved, the investigation has been officially handed over to an officer of the Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) rank," stated Jitendra Ajnare, Kalipith Town Inspector.

Forensic teams are currently verifying the authenticity of the video logs to identify other bystanders who actively participated in or abetted the illegal confinement and branding. Police added that further statements are being recorded, and arrests will follow shortly.

A 12-year-old girl was allegedly sold by her own mother and stepfather for Rs 12 lakh in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, with police confirming the child was subsequently raped by at least three men over several months before the case came to light through counselling.

A Family That Failed Her

The sequence of events began in January 2025 when the victim's biological father died due to excessive alcohol consumption, leaving the family without support. Within months, her mother remarried a man identified as Pawan alias Paramal Gurjar, a resident of Laharca Chak in Guna district.

After the second marriage, Pawan brought the girl and her mother to Rajgarh. According to investigators, it was here that the criminal conspiracy took shape — the child was treated not as a family member but as a commodity.

Forced into Marriage at 12

On 3 February 2025, the minor was forcibly married off to 26-year-old Bhola alias Bholaram Gurjar. Police say the transaction involved Rs 8 lakh in cash and jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh — an outright case of child trafficking dressed up as matrimony.

The groom allegedly raped the girl on their wedding night. In the weeks that followed, her stepfather Pawan also sexually assaulted her multiple times. Threatened into silence, the child endured the abuse without telling anyone.

Abandoned, Exploited, Assaulted Again

Her ordeal did not end there. Pawan eventually abandoned the girl's mother and went absconding. The mother then contracted a third marriage in Rajasthan and left her daughter behind at the home of a woman named Shaitanbai in Rajgarh, where the child was made to do household work.

It was during this period that another accused, Devraj Gurjar, found an opportunity to sexually assault her.

How the Case Surfaced

The matter came to the notice of Kotwali police station in-charge Inspector Manju Makhenia. Acting on the information, authorities placed the girl in a safe environment and arranged counselling. Once she felt assured of protection, the child narrated her ordeal in detail — describing months of physical, mental, and sexual abuse carried out under constant threats and intimidation.

"She had been living under fear for a long time. The counselling gave her the confidence to speak," a police official said.

Five Arrested, Mastermind Still at Large

An FIR bearing crime number 350/2026 has been registered at Kotwali police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.

Five of the six accused have been arrested: Bhola alias Bholaram Gurjar, Devraj Gurjar, Sagar Gurjar, Shaitanbai, and the victim's mother. The prime accused, Pawan alias Paramal Gurjar, remains at large. Police have announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information leading to his arrest and are conducting raids at multiple locations.

Child Marriage Still Happening in Shadows

Despite laws being in place for nearly five decades, child marriages continue to occur across India — not in public ceremony but in secrecy, often in agricultural fields, away from any gathering or decoration. The Prevention of Child Marriage Act was enacted in 2006 with strengthened provisions, following the 1978 amendment that raised the legal marriage age for girls to 18. Yet cases like this one reveal how legislation alone cannot protect a child when her own family becomes the instrument of exploitation.

The Rajgarh case is a stark reminder that trafficking does not always happen at borders or in distant cities. Sometimes it happens within the home.

MP heatwave intensifies; Rajgarh records 45°C as mercury set to rise

Heatwave grips half the state, IMD warns of 2–3°C rise over next four days; noon–3pm outdoor advisory in effect

A severe heat spell continued to scorch large parts of Madhya Pradesh on Monday, with Rajgarh recording the highest temperature in the state at 45°C and weather offices warning of a further 2–3°C rise over the next four days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heat-related alerts for several districts and advised people to avoid stepping out between 12pm and 3pm.

Heat peaks in Rajgarh

According to IMD Bhopal, Rajgarh recorded 45°C on Sunday, the highest reading reported in the state. Several other towns logged extreme readings: Ratlam 44.8°C, Khandwa 44.5°C and Nougaon-Khajuraho 44.4°C. In all, temperatures crossed 43°C in at least 16 urban centres on Sunday, officials said.

Wider alert map

The meteorological office listed two categories of concern. A heat-wave or “loo” alert was in effect for districts including Gwalior, Shyopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Vidisha, Raisen, Sagar, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Damoh, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Maihar, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Barwani, Khandwa, Burhanpur and Khargone. In these areas daytime temperatures were expected to remain above 43–44°C.

A separate advisory said other major centres — including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Jabalpur and several districts in west and central Madhya Pradesh — would not have an official “loo” alert but would still experience very hot conditions.

IMD prognosis and timing

IMD forecasters said daytime temperatures were likely to climb by about 2–3°C over the next four days, driven by persistent clear skies and dry westerly winds. “The maximum impact of heat will be between 12pm and 3pm,” an IMD bulletin from Bhopal noted. Local officials have been asked to keep close watch on vulnerable groups and essential services.

Health and safety advisory

State health authorities reiterated standard precautions: drink plenty of water, avoid prolonged sun exposure, wear light cotton clothing and seek shade during mid-day hours. Officials emphasised special care for children, elderly people and those with chronic illnesses. Several municipal corporations have opened drinking water points and directed community health workers to monitor heat-related illnesses in urban slums and peri-urban pockets.

Ground reality and public response

In parts of Bhopal and Indore, residents were seen covering faces with cloth and avoiding outdoor activity in the late morning. Street vendors and labourers reported stepping out earlier in the day to avoid the peak heat, while schools and some local bodies adjusted timings for outdoor work. “We try to finish most of the work early morning,” said a construction supervisor in Indore (name withheld). Local hospitals reported a moderate uptick in heat-stress cases, mainly dehydration and exhaustion, over the weekend.

Recent rainfall context

The heat comes after an unusually active start to May, when the state saw rain, thunderstorms and squalls on many days. IMD records show that between April 30 and mid-May the state experienced multiple western disturbances and convective activity, leaving 14 out of the first 17 days of May affected by rain or storms. That pattern eased from May 11, and dry conditions returned, allowing temperatures to climb rapidly.

City-wise trends

Historical context shows wide variability across the state. Gwalior and parts of western MP are prone to particularly high peaks; Gwalior’s all-time record of 48.3°C dates to 1947. Ujjain, Indore and Jabalpur have also recorded extreme May temperatures in past decades, and May often brings a mix of high heat and intermittent pre-monsoon showers in different pockets.

What to watch next

IMD said no widespread rain was expected over the next 48–72 hours for most of Madhya Pradesh, though isolated showers cannot be ruled out in some eastern districts. Authorities have urged citizens to monitor local advisories, keep emergency numbers handy and check on vulnerable neighbours. Municipal and health departments have been asked to remain alert as the state braces for at least four more days of intensified heat.

Madhya Pradesh Man Arrested for Raping Woman Thrice in Rajgarh District

A 35-year-old woman from Jirapur was assaulted over four hours; victim reported the crime a day later after overcoming fear of threats

Woman Reports Assault in Rajgarh

A man has been arrested in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district after a 35-year-old woman alleged she was raped three times within four hours, police confirmed on Friday. The accused, identified as Mukesh son of Rampratap Dangi, a resident of Narmadeshwar Colony in Jirapur, has been taken into custody following an FIR registered at Jirapur police station.

What the Victim Alleged

According to the complaint, the incident took place between approximately 10 pm on March 31 and 2 am on April 1. The woman alleged that the accused took her to a forested area near Bhandavad Road, where he sexually assaulted her on three separate occasions during the night.

Threats Kept Her Silent

The victim stated that the accused repeatedly threatened her throughout the ordeal, warning her against disclosing the matter to anyone and threatening to kill her if she did. Shaken and fearful, she did not report the crime immediately. It was only after a day had passed that she gathered the courage to walk into Jirapur police station on Thursday and file a formal complaint.

FIR Registered, Accused Held

Acting on her complaint, the Jirapur police registered Case No. 100/2026 against Mukesh Dangi under Sections 64(2), 87, and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused was arrested the following day, Friday, as per official confirmation. Station House Officer Aditya Soni stated that the investigation is currently underway and that further legal proceedings are being carried out in accordance with the law.

Legal Framework Applied

The case has been registered under the BNS — India's updated criminal code that replaced the Indian Penal Code — with provisions covering sexual assault, intimidation, and criminal force. The sections invoked reflect the gravity of the alleged offences, including the element of repeated assault and the use of threats to suppress the survivor's voice.

Women's Safety in MP Under Scrutiny

Incidents of sexual violence in Madhya Pradesh continue to draw attention to the state's law and order record on women's safety. Rajgarh district, located in the Malwa region, has seen periodic crime reports in recent years. Rights groups and local advocates have consistently called for faster police response and stronger support mechanisms for survivors, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas where social pressure often delays reporting.

Investigation Continues

Police have confirmed the accused is in custody and that the investigation remains active. Forensic and other procedural steps are expected to follow as part of the standard process in sexual assault cases. Authorities have not ruled out further developments as the probe progresses.

BJP Hands Key Post to Ex-Congress Lok Sabha Candidate Mona Sustani in MP Women's Front Overhaul

Former Rajgarh contestant joins the saffron party's state executive as General Secretary; the new committee includes seven vice presidents and eight state ministers drawn from across Madhya Pradesh.

A Surprise Elevation

 In a move that has set political circles buzzing in Madhya Pradesh, Mona Sustani — who contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election on a Congress ticket — has been appointed General Secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha's state executive committee. The announcement came on Saturday when State President Advocate Ashwini Paranjape Rajwade unveiled the newly constituted team, pulling in women representatives from districts spread across the length and breadth of the state.

The appointment is being read as a signal of the party's intent to reward those who have crossed over from the opposition and demonstrated organisational commitment.

Congress Roots, Saffron Future

Sustani's political biography is anything but linear. Her father-in-law, Gulabsingh Sustani, won two terms as an MLA from the Rajgarh Assembly segment and served for an extended period as chairman of MP Agro under the Digvijay Singh government. Mona herself was a prominent voice in the Digvijay Singh faction within Congress — a background that makes her current placement in the BJP's women's wing all the more politically significant.

She has previously held elected posts at the zila panchayat and janpad panchayat levels, giving her ground-level administrative experience ahead of her organisational role.

Defeat That Preceded a Switch

In the 2019 general elections, Sustani contested from Rajgarh parliamentary constituency on a Congress ticket and lost to BJP's Rodmal Nagar by a margin exceeding two lakh votes. A year after that electoral setback, she formally joined the BJP at an event in Bhopal where then-party National President JP Nadda presided over her induction in March 2023.

Since switching sides, Sustani has remained active at the grassroots level through an organisation called Lalchunar, running campaigns against the Natra tradition in the Rajgarh region for the past five years.

New Executive Takes Shape

The fresh executive unveiled by Paranjape Rajwade reflects a deliberate push for geographic spread, with office-bearers drawn from Gwalior, Panna, Dewas, Shahdol, Barwani, Ashoknagar and Sagar among other districts.

Seven women have been elevated to the post of Vice President: Neelima Shinde (Gwalior), Asha Gupta (Panna), Maya Patel (Dewas), Shalini Sarawagi (Shahdol), Advocate Anjana Patel (Barwani), Vibha Srivastava (Ashoknagar), and Dr Yakriti Jadiya (Sagar).

Eight women have been named State Ministers within the Morcha: Shashi Patel (Mandla), Khushboo Gupta (Gwalior), Reena Dandotiya (Morena), Mamta Malviya (Betul), Dr Anjali Rayzada (Gwalior), Charulata Yadav (Khandwa), Seema Jaiswal (Singrauli) and Pramila Yadav (Ujjain).

Financial and Administrative Backbone

On the administrative side, CA Nidhi Bang of Indore has been named Treasurer. Archana Agrawal (Jabalpur) and Purnima Tiwari (Rewa) will serve as Co-Treasurers. Bhavna Singh (Bhopal) takes charge as Office Secretary, supported by co-secretaries Vimla Tiwari (Bhopal) and Lalita Purtiya (Narmadapuram).

Communications and Research Portfolio

The new team places clear emphasis on outreach. Harsha Thakur (Khandwa) has been named Media In-charge, with Priyasha Urmaliya (Satna) as Co-Media In-charge. Smriti Jain (Narsinghpur) will handle Social Media, assisted by Sarika Upadhyay (Gwalior) and Advocate Gayatri Singh Thakur (Bhopal). Sudha Sukhyani (Indore) leads IT, with Rashmi Pandey (Bhopal) and Kiran Bhadoria (Gwalior) as co-in-charges.

On the policy and research front, Dr Sakshi Bhardwaj (Bhopal) has been given charge, supported by Suman Singh (Sidhi) and Indu Chaudhary (Sagar). Training responsibilities go to Shivani Adsapurkar (Indore City), with Dr Vandana Arya (Narsinghpur) and Chetna Sharma (Shajapur) assisting.

What This Signals

According to party sources, the expansion of the Women's Front executive in Madhya Pradesh is part of a broader BJP effort to widen its female leadership base ahead of future electoral cycles. Sustani's appointment, in particular, is being viewed as a message to potential defectors from Congress that organisational rewards await those who commit to the party structure.

The new team's geographic diversity — spanning Singrauli in the east to Barwani in the west — suggests the Morcha intends to build a presence well beyond its traditional urban and semi-urban strongholds, a development that carries weight in a state where Madhya Pradesh BJP news has increasingly centred on rural outreach and women's representation as strategic priorities.