Severe heatwave grips Madhya Pradesh; Khajuraho sizzles at 45.4 degrees Celsius
Bhopal, May 14
Madhya Pradesh continued to reel under severe heatwave conditions on Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department centre in Bhopal issuing a detailed weather bulletin highlighting a sharp rise in temperatures across several parts of the state.
According to observations recorded on May 14, 2026, the state is witnessing extreme weather conditions marked by intense heatwaves, warm nights, and isolated incidents of rainfall, storms and hail.
Khajuraho in Chhatarpur district recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 45.4 degrees Celsius.
Other cities witnessing scorching conditions included Ratlam at 45.2 degrees Celsius and Dhar at 45 degrees Celsius.
In contrast, Pachmarhi recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 19.4 degrees Celsius.
The meteorological summary stated that maximum temperatures remained largely stable during the past 24 hours, but were appreciably above normal in the Indore and Ujjain divisions.
Heatwave conditions have already been recorded in districts such as Dhar, Ratlam and Khajuraho, while residents in Indore and Ujjain experienced uncomfortable warm nights.
Looking ahead, the IMD has issued warnings for continued heatwave conditions across several districts, including Guna, Rajgarh and Gwalior.
Residents in Bhopal and adjoining areas are likely to witness partly cloudy skies, with temperatures expected to hover around 43 degrees Celsius.
Despite the prevailing heat, some regions received brief spells of moisture.
Isolated rainfall was reported from the Jabalpur and Shahdol divisions, with Khairlanji receiving 11.2 mm rainfall.
Some areas, including Seoni, also reported hailstorms, while Satna witnessed a dust storm.
Strong gusty winds were recorded in several places, reaching speeds of up to 52 kmph in Chitrakoot.
Authorities have advised people to remain hydrated and avoid exposure to direct sunlight between noon and 3 p.m.
Farmers have also been advised to undertake frequent irrigation and use mulching techniques to protect crops from rising temperatures.
With temperatures expected to rise by another two to three degrees Celsius over the next three days, the state administration remains on alert over worsening summer conditions.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is no joke. My relatives in Indore said nights are also unbearable now. Climate change is real and we need more tree plantation drives. But also, why are we still building concrete jungles everywhere? We need urban planning that considers heat islands. 🌳
Meanwhile our leaders fly around in AC cars and give speeches about saving water. Ground reality: farmers in Dhar and Ratlam are struggling. The government should compensate crop losses due to heat. At least IMD warnings are helpful, but need better outreach in villages. ☀️
What about the daily wage workers? Rickshaw pullers, construction labourers... they have no choice but to work under this sun. Even 52 kmph winds in Chitrakoot won't help if it's this hot. We need heatwave alerts on radio and TV in local languages urgently. 🥵
Pachmarhi at 19.4°C sounds heavenly right now! But seriously, Khajuraho is a UNESCO World Heritage site - tourists must be suffering. The tourism department should arrange shaded waiting areas and free water for visitors. Also, can we discuss why we're not using light colour roofs?
I appreciate the IMD's specific warnings but the advice to "avoid direct sunlight between noon and 3 PM" is not practical for millions who have to commute, work or study. We need systemic solutions: flexible work hours, heat-proof public transport, and mandatory shade structures at bus stops. 🌞
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.