At least four people, including three members of the same family, were killed in two separate incidents after a powerful dust storm accompanied by pre-monsoon rain battered Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district on Friday, 12 June. The storm uprooted trees, damaged homes, snapped power lines, and blocked key roads across several parts of the district.

Tin Shed Collapse in Suswada Village

The deadliest incident unfolded in Suswada village under Avada police station limits, where three farm workers from the same family died after a temporary tin shed collapsed under the force of strong winds. According to Avada police station in-charge Dharmendra Malviya, the family had been guarding a moong crop field in Rajpura village when the weather turned severe without warning.

'Four members of the same family had taken shelter inside a tin shed to protect themselves from the storm and rain. A concrete wall adjacent to the structure collapsed due to strong winds, bringing down the shed and trapping them underneath,' Malviya said.

The deceased were identified as Bhima Adivasi (40), his wife Seema Adivasi (38), and their daughter-in-law Rajwati Adivasi (21). A fourth family member sustained injuries and was rushed to Kelwara Hospital in neighbouring Rajasthan for treatment. Police and local residents launched an immediate rescue operation, pulling the victims from the debris before shifting them to a district hospital, where three were declared dead. Their bodies were sent for post-mortem examination.

Malviya confirmed that police have registered a case and initiated an inquiry. Preliminary investigation indicates the deaths resulted from the collapse of the shed and the adjoining wall, and witness statements are being recorded.

Elderly Woman Killed by Overturned Autorickshaw

In a separate incident in the Salpura area, an autorickshaw parked along a roadside overturned during the storm. An elderly woman, Bharosi Bai Vaishnav (80), who was standing nearby, was struck by the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. This incident brings the total storm-related fatalities in the district to four on Friday.

Widespread Damage Across the District

The storm caused extensive infrastructural damage across Sheopur. Dozens of trees were uprooted, mud houses were damaged, and power lines were snapped — disrupting electricity supply in several localities. Fallen trees also blocked key roads, affecting traffic movement for several hours. This is consistent with the pattern of pre-monsoon storms in the Chambal belt, which have historically caused disproportionate damage to semi-permanent structures and exposed farm workers.

Weather Outlook and Temperature Relief

Despite the destruction, the rainfall brought some respite from the intense summer heat. According to the Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature in Sheopur dropped from 41 degrees Celsius earlier in the week to around 36 degrees Celsius on Friday. The department has forecast continued weather fluctuations, with light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds likely at isolated places across Sheopur and adjoining districts over the next 24 hours. Residents and farm workers in temporary shelters have been urged to remain vigilant.