Two eight-year-old girls, identified as Nibiya and Tanvi Sahu, died on Tuesday, 13 May after lightning struck a tree under which they had taken shelter in Baidora village, Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh. The fatal strike is the latest casualty in a wave of extreme weather volatility gripping the state, where northern districts face severe storms even as western and central regions endure a blistering heatwave.

How the Incident Unfolded

According to police, the incident occurred between 7 pm and 7:30 pm during a sudden onset of thunderstorms and gusty winds in Baidora village. The two girls had reportedly sought refuge under a tree when the lightning struck, killing them on the spot. Authorities have reiterated that sheltering under trees during thunderstorms is among the most dangerous decisions a person can make.

The violence of the weather was not limited to Baidora. Reports indicate that Niwari tehsil in Tikamgarh district was also battered by hailstorms and intense winds, with several villages bearing the brunt of the sudden meteorological assault.

Extreme Weather Across Madhya Pradesh

While northern Madhya Pradesh reeled from storms, the rest of the state remained gripped by relentless heat. Ratlam emerged as the hottest spot, recording a maximum temperature of 44.5 degrees Celsius. Gwalior followed at 43.1 degrees Celsius, and Jabalpur recorded 41.6 degrees Celsius. The only respite came from Pachmarhi, which logged a comparatively cooler high of 35.8 degrees Celsius.

Balaghat reported wind speeds reaching up to 60 kilometres per hour, underscoring the intensity of the convective activity sweeping across the state. Experts suggest that Madhya Pradesh is currently experiencing sharp temperature fluctuations driven by dry heat from the west colliding with moisture-laden winds, triggering localised but dangerous storm cells.

Weather Alerts and Official Warnings

The Weather Centre in Bhopal has issued an urgent forecast warning that atmospheric instability will continue through the night. Residents of Morena and Bhind have been placed on alert for moderate thunderstorms with lightning and possible hail, with wind speeds expected to reach 60 kilometres per hour. Light thunderstorms with lightning are also likely over Tikamgarh, north Gwalior, Sagar, Damoh, and north Chhatarpur, including the tourist destination of Khajuraho.

Authorities have urged citizens to remain indoors during thunderstorms and avoid sheltering under trees or near metal structures. The district administration in the storm-affected northern belt remains on high alert to manage further emergencies.

Safety Advisory

This is not an isolated tragedy — lightning strikes during pre-monsoon convective storms claim dozens of lives across central India each year, with rural communities at disproportionate risk due to limited early-warning infrastructure. Officials have called for heightened public awareness as the current weather pattern remains unpredictable and potentially life-threatening. With monsoon season still weeks away, meteorologists warn that such volatile conditions may persist across the state's northern districts.