Cyclone Montha Triggers Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms Across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

Bhopal/Raipur — The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued weather advisories for Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Chhattisgarh as the indirect impact of Cyclone Montha, coupled with a depression and cyclonic circulation, unleashed heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning across large parts of both states.

According to the IMD centres in Bhopal and Raipur, the interaction between Montha’s outer bands, a depression over eastern MP, and a trough extending from Jharkhand has caused intense rainfall in several districts. “Montha’s indirect effects triggered widespread downpours on Tuesday, drenching seven districts including Sheopur and Morena. Urban hubs like Bhopal and Indore remained mostly dry, while rural regions faced the brunt,” officials said.

During the past 24 hours, rainfall was recorded in most areas of Ujjain, Gwalior, Chambal, and Rewa divisions, with scattered showers in Indore and Sagar, and light rain in parts of Bhopal and Shahdol.

The IMD has warned of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning at isolated places in Mandsaur, Neemuch, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Seoni, Mandla, and Balaghat districts.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are also expected in Vidisha, Rajgarh, Ratlam, Agar, Anuppur, Dindori, Chhindwara, and Pandhurna, while rain and drizzle are forecast for a wide belt covering Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Rewa, Jabalpur, Sagar, and Narmadapuram divisions.

Alerts remain in place through Saturday for Sheopur, Morena, Burhanpur, Betul, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Seoni-Mandla, Balaghat, Dindori, and Anuppur, with similar conditions likely over the next four days.

In Chhattisgarh, the Raipur IMD centre has issued a red alert for Bastar, warning of gale-force winds (40–60 kmph) and heavy to very heavy rain in several districts over the next three days.

Light to moderate rain is expected across the state till October 31, while thunderstorms with strong gusts are predicted over Vidarbha-Chhattisgarh till November 1.

Southern tribal regions — including Narayanpur, Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Sukma — are on red alert for extreme rainfall, with up to 115 mm expected in 24 hours, raising fears of flash floods.

Meanwhile, Raipur and Bilaspur districts are likely to experience moderate showers (25–64 mm) along with lightning. Over the past 24 hours, scattered rain was recorded in the Bastar division, while the rest of the state remained largely dry.

Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid waterlogged areas, and safeguard livestock. Farmers have been advised to refrain from sowing activities until conditions stabilize.

Though Cyclone Montha is expected to weaken after landfall near Odisha, the moisture-laden winds will continue to cause unstable weather across central India in the coming days.

With inputs from IANS