Madhya Pradesh rains: Red alert in 22 districts as Gwalior-Chambal belt reels under torrential downpour; schools shut, Bhind–Morena flooded

Bhopal: Heavy overnight downpour has pushed large parts of the Gwalior–Chambal belt into a flood-like situation, with Bhind, Morena and Datia the worst hit. In Gwalior, authorities ordered closure of all schools on Monday as a precaution, while rescue teams remained on alert in vulnerable low-lying settlements.The Meteorological Department has sounded a red alert for heavy rainfall in as many as 22 districts across the state, including Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Datia, Shivpuri and Guna. Light to moderate rain is expected in Indore, Bhopal and other western districts, but the heaviest spell is concentrated in north and northeast Madhya Pradesh.Since the onset of monsoon, the Chambal basin and adjoining Gwalior region have borne the brunt of rainfall.

Of the eight districts in this division, seven—Gwalior, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Bhind, Morena and Sheopur—have already received more water than their seasonal quota, while Datia has crossed 96% of the average, say sources.Guna tops the rainfall chart in Madhya Pradesh this season, logging 53.2 inches, followed closely by Ashoknagar (50.3 inches) and Sheopur (49.2 inches). This has triggered waterlogging in fields, damage to kutcha houses and disruption of road connectivity in several tehsils.

In Sheopur, a rescue was carried out when police and SDRF ferried a pregnant woman to hospital by boat through flooded lanes.With fresh forecasts warning of more downpour, district administrations in Gwalior, Bhind and Morena are keeping schools shut and relief teams on standby. Roads linking several villages have been cut off by swirling floodwaters, and farmers are bracing for potential damage to standing crops.