Khajuraho Sizzles at 46°C, Breaks 10-Year Record as Heatwave Grips Madhya Pradesh

Mercury crosses 44°C in 13 cities

The tourist town of Khajuraho recorded a maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius on Monday, its highest in a decade, as an intense heatwave tightened its grip over large parts of Madhya Pradesh. Officials said the day temperature at the UNESCO World Heritage site was the hottest for April in ten years. The neighbouring town of Naugaon in Chhatarpur district followed closely, recording 45.5 degrees Celsius, making it the second warmest location in the state.

Heatwave and rain alerts issued for Tuesday

The India Meteorological Department’s Bhopal centre has issued a mixed warning for Tuesday. Four districts – Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Seoni, Mandla and Balaghat – remain under a heatwave alert. At the same time, 12 districts across northern and eastern MP are likely to see thunderstorms and rainfall. These include Gwalior, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Shivpuri, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna and Rewa.

Officials said a cyclonic circulation and an active trough line are driving this unusual weather pattern, where extreme heat and rain are expected to co-exist until May 1. Some relief from the heatwave is expected only after April 28.

All-time record in sight for Khajuraho

The 46-degree reading has already broken a ten-year record for Khajuraho, but older data suggests the all-time high for the town could be under threat. According to IMD records, the highest-ever April temperature for Khajuraho was recorded on April 29, 1993, when the mercury touched 46.9 degrees Celsius. If the current spell of dry heat continues for another two days, that 33-year-old record may also fall.

Ground impact: wall collapse claims life in Damoh

The unpredictable weather has already turned fatal in at least one instance. A woman died in Damoh district on Monday evening after a kutcha wall collapsed during a sudden spell of strong winds and rain. The victim, identified as 48-year-old Ragini Patariya, was a resident of Mahua Kheda village under the Raneh police station area. Local sources said she had stepped out to cover a stack of cow dung cakes when the wall gave way. Damoh has been among the districts witnessing fluctuating weather over the past 48 hours.

Heat safety advisory issued

With temperatures hovering between 42 and 46 degrees across most urban centres, the IMD has also issued a heat safety advisory. Residents have been asked to drink sufficient water through the day, avoid prolonged sun exposure during afternoon hours, and wear light-coloured cotton clothing. Special attention has been advised for children and the elderly. Bhopal and Gwalior both recorded 43.4 degrees on Monday, while Indore touched 42.0, Ujjain 42.4 and Jabalpur 42.7 degrees Celsius.

April heat trends show rising intensity

Meteorologists point out that April and May are the two primary summer months for Madhya Pradesh, much like December-January for winter and July-August for the monsoon. Data from the past decade shows that the second half of April typically sees a sharp rise in temperatures, often breaking records towards month end.

In Bhopal, the highest April temperature ever recorded remains 44.4 degrees Celsius from April 29, 1996. Gwalior, which tends to run hotter than other cities, once touched 45 degrees in the last ten years. Its all-time April high of 46.2 degrees was recorded on April 28, 1958. Ujjain, meanwhile, had recorded 45.2 degrees on April 18, 2010, with the overall record for the city currently standing at 48.8 degrees from last year.

What to expect over the next four days

The IMD expects the ongoing heatwave to persist across central and eastern parts of the state for at least another 48 hours. After that, the cyclonic circulation may trigger scattered showers and provide marginal relief. Officials have, however, cautioned that the drop in temperature is likely to be temporary. The core summer months of May could once again see a return to severe heatwave conditions across the Bundelkhand and Gwalior-Chambal regions.