Relentless summer spell grips state, Bilaspur hottest at 45°C

Raipur: Chhattisgarh continues to reel under an intense heat spell from the last three days, with Bilaspur recording 45°C and remaining the hottest city in the state for consecutive fourth day.

District health committee has issued an advisory warning residents against heatstroke and dehydration. Officials said this is the fifth time in the past decade that Bilaspur has witnessed such extreme May heat.The weather department has issued a heatwave alert for the next five days in parts of central Chhattisgarh, even as brief drizzle and gusty winds in Raipur and Durg-Bhilai during evenings might bring little relief from the scorching conditions.Raipur is also likely to face heatwave-like conditions, with the maximum temperature expected around 44°C and the minimum near 30°C. Across the state, Ambikapur recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 24°C.Health officials in Bilaspur warned that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to high fever, dizziness, vomiting, headache, fainting and red, dry skin — key symptoms of heatstroke. People have been advised to immediately shift affected persons to a shaded or cool place, cool the body, give water or ORS and seek hospital care if the condition worsens.

The advisory has urged residents to avoid stepping out in the afternoon, drink water frequently and consume ORS, buttermilk, lemon water and other fluids. People have also been advised to eat water-rich fruits and seasonal fruits, wear loose cotton clothes and cover heads with a scarf, cap or umbrella while outdoors.The health department has advised children to take extra precautions and ensure they are not exposed to direct sunlight or hot winds.For heat-related emergencies, residents in Bilaspur can contact the district control room helpline numbers 87706-64365 and 75870-38622.The heat is affecting wildlife too. In Raigarh district near the Odisha border, an elephant was seen drawing water from a farm tank with its trunk and spraying it over its body to cool down.Meteorologists said hot and dry northwesterly winds are pushing temperatures upward. An upper-air cyclonic circulation over west Bihar and a trough from central Uttar Pradesh to north Telangana may trigger isolated light rain or gusty winds in some pockets, but no major fall in temperature is expected over the next five days.Weather experts said the southwest monsoon may reach Kerala around May 26, but Chhattisgarh is likely to get its normal monsoon entry through Jagdalpur around June 13, reaching Raipur two to three days later and Ambikapur around June 20.