Expect heavy rains in Indore division

The meteorological department has issued an alert for heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in Indore division in the next 48 hours. Other areas will receive moderate to heavy rains.

The department said an upper-air cyclonic system prevailing over Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, a similar system existing over southwest MP and east Rajasthan, and a dense cloud mass present over Indore and surrounding areas are likely to cause heavy downpour.

Department regional head Anupam Kashyapi said heavy rains will bring down day's temperature to the extent that there will be very little difference between maximum and minimum temperatures.

According to the weather department, Indore has broken a 19-year-old record of rainfall. In June-July 1996, it had received 642.9 mm (25.31 inches) of rainfall. However, by July 25 this year, it has already received 669 mm (26.33 inches) of rainfall.

Meanwhile, intermittent spells of moderate rains lashed the city on Saturday. Indore recorded 50 mm of rain between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, taking the season's total to 695 mm (27.36 inches).

Moisture-laden westerly winds blew at a speed of 40 km an hour bringing down the day temperature to 24.2 degrees Celsius, which was five degrees below normal. The minimum temperature remained normal at 22.3 degrees Celsius. Morning and evening humidity was 98% and 97% respectively.

Three die in Ratlam

Thee persons died because of incessant rains that lashed the district in the last 24 hours.

According to the police and administration sources, a six-year-old boy drowned in a nullah in Alnia village that falls under the Station Road police station. In another incident, Taj Mohammad and Ehsan Mohammad were killed when their car fell into a nullah about eight kilometres from Ratlam on the Sailana Road.

The district received heavy rains from 11 am to 3 pm, though the intensity of rainfall reduced later in the evening. Rainfall from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm was 169.2 mm, bringing the total rainfall this season to 742.4 mm.

The weather department has said the downpour will continue for at least 24 hours.

As a precautionary measure, the district administration had declared a holiday for schools, but the late call meant many of the children had already reached their schools.