New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in four districts of western Madhya Pradesh. IMD has issued an orange alert in this regard. IMD has also issued two separate yellow alerts for heavy rain in 28 districts of the state with thunderstorms and lightning warnings.


An IMD official said all three alerts are valid till Sunday morning. Senior meteorologist PK Saha of the Bhopal office of IMD said that as per orange alert, heavy to very heavy rain with thundering may occur at different places in Dhar, Ratlam, Ujjain, and Dewas districts.


Yellow alert issued for 13 districts


Saha said a yellow alert has been issued for heavy rain accompanied by lightning and thundershowers at different places in 13 districts of the state such as Mandsaur, Neemuch, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Shivpuri, Agar-Malwa, Shajapur, Jhabua, Betul, Rajgarh, Narsinghpur and Chhindwara.


Heavy rain forecast in 15 districts with thunder and lightning


In addition, a yellow alert has been issued in 15 districts of Dewas, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Shajapur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Shivpuri, Sheopur, Datia, Ashok Nagar, Guna, Bhind, Agar, Ratlam, and Morena with heavy rain forecast with thunder and lightning.


Intermittent rain for three days 


A large part of Madhya Pradesh has been receiving intermittent rain for the past three days. Gwalior, Betul, Ratlam, and Bhopal cities received 25.6 mm, 12 mm, 9 mm and 8.4 mm rainfall respectively between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Saturday.


Floods occurred in Chambal division in early August


Saha said the 'monsoon trough' is passing through the Tikamgarh and Sidhi districts of Madhya Pradesh. Moreover, the pressure of cyclonic winds continues over north-east Rajasthan and adjoining north-west Madhya Pradesh. The combination of these two factors is bringing moisture which has caused the rains in Madhya Pradesh. According to the officials, heavy rains wreaked havoc in the Gwalior and Chambal divisions of Madhya Pradesh earlier this month causing floods and killing at least 24 people between August 1 and 7.