Unseasonal rains accompanied by thunderstorms and hail lashed Dindori and several other parts of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday afternoon, causing a sudden shift in weather and disrupting agricultural activity. The rain began around 1:30 pm in Dindori, with hail reported in many areas. The abrupt change led to a sharp drop in temperature, from 38°C to 28°C, offering relief from the heat but also raising concerns for farmers.
Earlier in the day, Bhopal recorded its highest temperature of the season at 42.5°C before cloud cover and light rain cooled the capital by late afternoon. Farmer Mahendra Singh Thakur from Dindori expressed worry that this untimely rain would hamper summer plowing, a crucial step in drying soil and preparing fields for paddy cultivation. He warned that if the weather persists, it could delay sowing and reduce crop yields.
Despite rainfall in certain regions, severe heat gripped large parts of the state. Shajapur was the hottest city on Wednesday with 43.7°C, followed closely by Ratlam at 43.6°C, Ujjain at 43.4°C, and both Guna and Narsinghpur at 43.2°C. Bhopal reached 42.5°C, while Indore recorded 42°C, Jabalpur 40.2°C, and Gwalior 39.6°C. Jabalpur received some rain on Thursday afternoon, offering temporary relief.
The India Meteorological Department issued alerts for thunderstorms and lightning in multiple districts including Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Rajgarh, Narmadapuram, Ratlam, Ujjain, Agar, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Katni, Mandla, Balaghat, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, and Niwari. The department has also forecast more rain, hail, and strong winds across Madhya Pradesh over the next four days due to an active western disturbance.
In a tragic incident in Betul’s Piparia Guruva village, a 100-foot BSNL tower collapsed due to a storm, killing four bulls and injuring two others. Storm-related wind speeds reached up to 73 kmph in Shajapur, 69 kmph in Harda, and 65 kmph in Indore, where a tree was uprooted.
Cloudy skies and light rain were reported in Bhopal after 4 pm, as weather conditions continued to shift. Historically, May is the hottest month in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in border areas near Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, where temperatures often soar to 47–48°C. While the recent weather has brought some cooling relief, it has also introduced new challenges for farmers preparing for the kharif season.
The sudden fluctuation in weather is also expected to impact power demand and consumption across the state. With temperatures dropping in several districts, the load on electricity grids may temporarily reduce, especially in urban centers like Indore, Jabalpur, and Bhopal, where air conditioning usage typically spikes in May. However, rural areas may face outages due to storm-related damage to transmission lines and infrastructure.
In the Malwa and Bundelkhand regions, where farmers had just begun preparing land for kharif crops, the rainfall has disrupted schedules. Agricultural officers in Neemuch and Tikamgarh have advised farmers to delay sowing activities until the weather stabilizes. The Department of Agriculture has been asked to monitor rainfall impact and prepare contingency advisories for vulnerable districts.
