Rainfall activity is likely to continue across parts of Chhattisgarh over the next two days, particularly in northern, central and western districts, with thunderstorms and lightning possible at some places. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast generally cloudy conditions with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers in Raipur on September 4 and 5, along with a warning for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning.

The weather conditions come as several parts of the state have already recorded significant rainfall. IMD data for September 3 showed 42.4 mm of rain at Durg, 22.2 mm at Raipur-Mana, 22 mm at Raipur-Labhandi and 22 mm at Raipur-Lalpur. Ambikapur recorded 7.4 mm, Bilaspur 6.7 mm and Rajnandgaon 12 mm during the observation period.

Rain Expected in Several Districts

According to the forecast, light to moderate rainfall may occur at some places in the state on Friday, with thunderstorms and lightning possible in some areas. Similar conditions may continue over the following couple of days, although rainfall activity is expected to gradually weaken later.

Raipur is also likely to remain cloudy, with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. The IMD forecast for Raipur-Mana puts the maximum temperature around 28°C and the minimum around 23°C on September 4, with similar rain and thunderstorm conditions expected on September 5.

Heavy Rain Recorded in Multiple Areas

Several locations across Chhattisgarh recorded moderate rainfall in the latest reporting period. Apart from Durg and Raipur, rainfall was also reported from Ambikapur, Pendra, Lakhanpur, Jagdalpur and other parts of the state.

The continued rainfall has also led to waterlogging in some urban and residential areas, while authorities and residents in vulnerable locations are keeping an eye on water levels in rivers, drains and reservoirs.

Teenager Swept Away in Korba

Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy was swept away while bathing in the Hasdeo River at Kudurmāl in Korba district on Thursday morning. The incident reportedly occurred around 7 am in the Urga police station area.

The teenager was bathing near an anicut when he was caught in the strong water current. People present at the spot reportedly saw him being swept away and alerted others. Local residents and police subsequently began a search operation.

The search was continuing, according to the information available in the source material. Further details about the teenager and the rescue operation were not independently confirmed at the time of publication.

Waterlogging Reported in Ambikapur Area

Parts of Ambikapur have also experienced water accumulation following persistent rainfall. Areas including Kundla and Vasundhara Colony were reported to have witnessed waterlogging.

Rainwater also entered the Rajpur tehsil office, while roads in some residential areas were affected. Such incidents highlight the local impact of continued rainfall even when rainfall intensity varies significantly between districts.

Rainfall Deficit Remains Marginal

The source data puts Chhattisgarh's cumulative rainfall from June 1 to September 3 at 944.7 mm, against a normal of 962.6 mm for the period. This represents a deficit of around 17.9 mm, or approximately 2%.

The rainfall distribution, however, has been uneven. Balrampur recorded 1,433.1 mm during the period, described as 75% above normal, while Bemetara received 536.7 mm, around 39% below normal. This shows the substantial variation in rainfall between districts despite the relatively small statewide deficit.

Jagdalpur Warmest, Pendra Coolest

According to the latest IMD observations cited in the source data, Jagdalpur recorded the state's highest maximum temperature at 27.7°C, while Pendra recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 20.6°C. The figures reflect the cooler and cloudy conditions prevailing across several parts of the state.

With thunderstorms and lightning forecast in parts of the state, residents are advised to exercise caution during storms and avoid exposed locations when lightning activity is occurring.

At least 11 people have lost their lives and several others remain missing after cloudbursts and flash floods triggered widespread devastation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Kishtwar districts. The extreme weather also caused extensive damage to homes, roads and agricultural land, while heavy rainfall and landslides disrupted major pilgrimage routes in Uttarakhand.

The latest incidents come as the southwest monsoon intensifies across northern India, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue fresh red and orange alerts for several states over the next two days.

Flash Floods Sweep Away Vehicles in Rajouri

Heavy rainfall during the early hours of Saturday caused the Dharhal River to overflow in Rajouri district, triggering flash floods that inundated the New Bus Stand area in Bela.

According to officials, nearly 200 to 250 vehicles parked in the area were swept away by the powerful floodwaters, causing significant property damage. Emergency teams were deployed to assess the situation and restore normalcy.

Poonch Suffers Heavy Losses After Landslide

The worst impact was reported from Poonch district, where torrential overnight rain triggered landslides and flash floods, leaving 11 people dead and seven others missing.

In Surankote, a landslide buried a house under debris, trapping eight members of a family. Rescue teams have so far recovered the bodies of five victims, including two-year-old Sofian Yasir, while search operations continue to locate the remaining missing persons.

Authorities have intensified rescue efforts despite challenging weather conditions and unstable terrain.

Cloudburst Hits Kishtwar, Damages Homes and Farmland

A separate cloudburst in Dachhan area of Kishtwar district caused extensive destruction, damaging several residential houses, roads and agricultural fields.

Local administration teams have begun damage assessment, while relief measures are being coordinated for affected families.

Landslides Disrupt Kedarnath and Kailash Mansarovar Yatras

In neighbouring Uttarakhand, continuous rainfall triggered multiple landslides, disrupting important pilgrimage routes.

Authorities suspended horse and mule services on the Kedarnath Yatra route after debris blocked sections of the path. Meanwhile, the fourth batch of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims, comprising around 50 devotees, was halted at Dharchula Base Camp in Pithoragarh after a landslide blocked the road near Garbadhar.

Officials said pilgrims would be allowed to proceed only after the route is declared safe.

Arunachal Floods Affect Over 1.49 Lakh People

The monsoon has also caused severe flooding in Arunachal Pradesh, where officials reported that 1,49,257 people across 26 districts, 328 administrative circles and 576 villages have been affected.

The state has recorded seven fatalities and 29 injuries due to floods and landslides during the current spell of heavy rainfall.

IMD Issues Fresh Rain Alerts

The India Meteorological Department has warned that heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely to continue across northern and northeastern India.

For 20 July, red alerts have been issued for Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, while orange alerts remain in effect for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and West Bengal.

On 21 July, red alerts will continue for Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, with widespread heavy rainfall expected across eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and several northeastern states.

Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel and follow official weather advisories as rescue and relief operations continue.

A farmer in Barwani was hospitalised on Friday after his banana plantation spread across nine acres was flattened by severe winds and rain, even as over 200 farmers in neighbouring Khargone blocked the Khandwa–Baroda Highway demanding canal water. With the monsoon running nearly 10 days late, Madhya Pradesh is staring at a deepening farm crisis just as the Kharif sowing season gets underway.

The state has recorded a 39% rainfall deficit so far this season, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). While scattered thunderstorms have brought some relief to parts of western MP, the absence of widespread rain has left fields parched and farmers anxious.

Barwani: ₹36 lakh loss, farmer's health deteriorates

In Khadki village of Barwani district, brothers Ambaram and Gangaram watched helplessly as their ready-to-harvest banana crop was flattened by strong winds accompanied by unseasonal rain. Around 1,500 banana plants were destroyed.

The brothers had invested nearly ₹14 lakh in the plantation and estimate their total losses at approximately ₹36 lakh. Ambaram's health deteriorated sharply after the crop was destroyed, forcing his family to rush him to the Rajpur Health Centre.

The family has urged the district administration to conduct an immediate damage assessment and provide compensation.

Khargone: Farmers block highway, bullock carts parked on road

In Khargone district, the delayed monsoon has dried up the Veda, Kunda and Kharak rivers, worsening the water crisis for agriculture. On Friday morning, more than 200 farmers parked bullock carts across the Khandwa–Baroda Highway around 11:30 am, blocking traffic for several hours. Long queues of vehicles formed on both sides as protesters demanded the release of canal water for irrigation. Officials said they were attempting to pacify the agitators while assessing the situation.

Sowing delayed as soil moisture remains inadequate

The absence of adequate rainfall has significantly delayed the sowing of key Kharif crops, including soybean, urad, moong and tur. S.S. Dhakad, Senior Scientist at the Shajapur Krishi Vigyan Kendra, said fields require at least 100 mm (4 inches) of rainfall to achieve sufficient soil moisture for sowing.

He warned that in districts where farmers have already sown soybean despite inadequate rainfall, seeds may fail or deteriorate due to insufficient moisture. "Farmers should wait for adequate rains before planting," he advised.

IMD predicts monsoon entry by June 25; 39 districts under alert

Meteorologist said a cyclonic circulation and three active trough lines over western Madhya Pradesh are triggering thunderstorms and scattered rainfall across parts of the state. Light showers accompanied by thunder and lightning are likely in districts including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Raisen, Sehore, Vidisha, Guna, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Sagar, Panna, Chhatarpur and Niwari.

Hot weather conditions, however, continue to prevail in Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Sidhi, Singrauli, Maihar, Katni, Umaria, Khandwa, Khargone and Jhabua.

Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast that the monsoon is expected to enter Madhya Pradesh around June 25, nearly 10 days later than usual. Further updates on the progress of the monsoon are awaited.

Why this matters

The delayed monsoon comes at a critical time for Madhya Pradesh's agrarian economy. With the state heavily dependent on the Kharif season for its agricultural output, any further delay could impact food production and farmer incomes. The Congress-led opposition has criticised the state government's handling of the situation, while the BJP administration has directed district collectors to remain on alert.

Chhattisgarh is set to witness a sharp rise in temperature over the coming days, signaling the return of intense summer conditions. According to the Meteorological Department, maximum temperatures across the state are expected to increase by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius within the next four days. This rise will significantly intensify daytime heat, making outdoor conditions increasingly uncomfortable.

Temperatures Likely to Cross 42°C

From April 12 onwards, regions including Raipur, Bilaspur, and Durg divisions are likely to record temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius. This surge in temperature may lead to heatwave-like conditions in several areas, raising concerns for public health and safety. Residents are advised to remain cautious as the mercury continues to climb.

Recent Weather Conditions

In the past 24 hours, some parts of the state experienced light rainfall, although most regions remained dry. Rajnandgaon recorded the highest maximum temperature at 37.5°C, while Ambikapur reported the lowest minimum temperature at 19°C. Despite minor fluctuations, dry weather conditions have largely persisted across the state.

Impact of Weather Systems

A cyclonic circulation is currently active over Odisha, along with a north-south trough extending towards Tamil Nadu. However, these weather systems are not significantly influencing Chhattisgarh at present. As a result, dry atmospheric conditions continue to dominate, contributing to the steady rise in temperature.

Forecast for the Coming Days

The weather department has predicted clear skies across the state on April 10, with dry conditions expected to persist for the next two days. In Raipur, the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 38°C, while the minimum temperature may remain close to 25°C. The absence of cloud cover will further enhance heat intensity during the daytime.

Precautionary Measures Advised

With temperatures rising steadily, authorities have urged people to take necessary precautions. Avoiding direct exposure to sunlight during peak afternoon hours, staying hydrated, and taking special care of children and the elderly are essential steps to prevent heat-related illnesses. Increased awareness and preparedness can help minimize the risks associated with extreme heat.