The frogs were wedded in July in drought-stricken Bhopal in a belief that it would please Lord Indra and bring rains in the region. (Photo: Reuters)

There have been reports of people marrying off frogs to appease the rain gods but have you heard of the frogs being divorced to stop the rains? This happened in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh nearly two months after two frogs were married off in a grand ceremony to invoke rain gods.

The frogs were wedded on July 19 in drought-stricken Bhopal in a belief that it would please Lord Indra (Hindu god of rains) and bring rains in the region. However, in view of the heavy rains lashing Madhya Pradesh, the, er, "couple" had to be divorced to stop the rains.

As of September 11, Madhya Pradesh has received 26 per cent more rainfall than normal and flood-like conditions have formed in most parts of the state. On Sunday, rains in Bhopal almost broke the 13-year-old record of most rains recorded in a city.

In the last 24 hours, Bhopal has recorded 48 mm of heavy rains. In fact, two gates of Bhopal Kaliyasot Dam and Bhadbhada Dam have been opened. The gates of Kolar dam were also opened after three years to release the water.

Bhopal's lower settlements were flooded after heavy rains on Wednesday. To avoid any more rains in the region, members of Om Shiv Seva Shakti Mandal of Indrapuri area symbolically divorced the frogs on Wednesday evening.

During the ceremony, mantras were chanted and the frogs were separated. The members of the Om Shiva Seva Shakti Mandal believe that the way the divorce of the frogs would bring relief to the people of Bhopal.