Despite a strong spell of rain during the final week of July, Madhya Pradesh continues to face a significant rainfall deficit this monsoon season. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the state has received 15.7 inches of rainfall so far, which is 13% below the seasonal average of 18.1 inches.

The rainfall shortfall has prevented major reservoirs from filling up, raising concerns over water availability in the coming months. Several key dams, including Kolar, Bansagar, Kundalia, Barna, Omkareshwar, Indira Sagar, Gandhi Sagar and Tighra, remain less than half full. In contrast, many reservoirs had reached full capacity by the end of July last year.

Currently, only the Satpura Dam in Betul district has opened seven gates, while most other reservoirs continue to hold significantly lower water levels.

43 Districts Receive Below-Normal Rainfall

The IMD data shows that 43 districts have recorded below-normal rainfall this season, including Jabalpur, Gwalior, Sagar, Satna, Vidisha, Ujjain, Ratlam, Raisen, Dhar, Morena, Shivpuri, Betul, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla and Singrauli.

Five districts—Rewa, Morena, Sheopur, Datia and Alirajpur—have received less than 10 inches of rainfall, making them the worst affected.

Meanwhile, 12 districts, including Bhopal, Indore, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Sehore and Dewas, have recorded above-normal rainfall.

Reservoir Levels Raise Water Supply Concerns

With reservoirs yet to receive adequate inflows, concerns are growing over future drinking water availability. Several towns and cities are already witnessing irregular water supply, and officials fear the situation could worsen if rainfall does not improve significantly during August.

Agriculture Shows Mixed Picture

Senior agricultural scientist Dr. S.S. Dhakad from Shajapur said the current weather is largely favourable for soybean cultivation across the Indore and Ujjain divisions.

He noted that intermittent rainfall has helped crop growth so far, but soybean will require additional moisture during the grain formation stage. However, excessive rainfall in parts of Khandwa, Khargone and Barwani has caused waterlogging, damaging crops in some areas. Paddy cultivation has also not received sufficient rainfall in several districts.

Monsoon Arrived Late This Year

The southwest monsoon reached Madhya Pradesh on June 24, around nine days later than usual. While rainfall improved during July, two prolonged weak phases prevented the state from recovering the deficit created in June.

Rainfall intensified during the third and fourth weeks of July, but it was insufficient to bring the seasonal average back to normal levels.

Heavy Rain Likely to Return

Weather experts expect monsoon activity to strengthen again during the first week of August.

Meteorologist Shailendra Kumar Nayak said another spell of widespread rainfall is likely across the state, with heavier showers expected from August 4 onwards, offering some relief to the rainfall deficit.

Highest and Lowest Rainfall

Among districts, Balaghat has recorded the highest rainfall at nearly 24 inches, although this is still below its seasonal target. Burhanpur has achieved around 77% of its normal monsoon rainfall, the highest proportion in the state.

At the other end, Morena has received only 6.3 inches of rainfall so far, making it the driest district this season.

Rainfall Outlook for Major Cities

• Bhopal: About 19 inches of rainfall recorded; heavier showers expected from August 4.

• Indore: Around 17.5 inches of rainfall; western districts continue to perform better than average.

• Jabalpur: Received 16.3 inches of rainfall, approximately 44% of the seasonal target.

• Ujjain: Around 15.7 inches of rainfall, with nearby Dewas emerging among the wettest districts.

• Gwalior: Rainfall has improved in recent weeks, and another active spell is forecast during the coming week.