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.