No cooldown in sight, Nautapa set to ratchet heat towards 47°C

Raipur: Chhattisgarh is staring at an intense and prolonged heatwave spell just ahead of the annual “Nautapa” period, with temperatures already soaring close to 46 degrees Celsius and hot winds continuing well into the night across several districts.Rajnandgaon emerged as the hottest place in the state, recording a blistering 46°C, while Raipur sizzled over 44°C. Even after sunset, residents across central Chhattisgarh reported little relief as warm winds and high humidity kept conditions oppressive.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Raipur, Bilaspur and Surguja divisions, warning of severe heatwave conditions over the next several days. Heatwave alerts have been sounded for at least 18 districts, including Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Korba, Janjgir-Champa, Raigarh, Balodabazar, Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund and Bemetara.Meteorologists said the situation could worsen further with “Nautapa” — traditionally considered the hottest nine-day period of summer — beginning from May 25. Weather officials warned that temperatures in some pockets may breach the 47°C mark during the first few days of the spell.The extreme heat has begun taking a visible toll on daily life and public health.Roads wore a deserted look through the afternoon in several cities as people avoided stepping out under the scorching sun. In Bilaspur, officials suspect an elderly man may have died due to heatstroke, even as hospitals across the state reported a rise in dehydration, dizziness and exhaustion-related cases.Health departments in all districts have issued advisories asking people to avoid direct sun exposure between late morning and afternoon hours. Doctors said children, elderly persons, pregnant women and those with existing illnesses remain the most vulnerable.Officials warned that ultraviolet radiation levels too are expected to spike sharply after 10 am, reaching hazardous levels by noon.In Bilaspur, where temperatures hovered around 45-46°C, the health department released emergency helpline numbers and advised residents to stay hydrated and avoid unnecessary travel during peak afternoon hours.Raigarh too remained under severe heat stress, with residents complaining that even coolers and fans were proving ineffective amid rising humidity and persistent hot winds. A brief spell of drizzle earlier in the week only added to the discomfort without bringing any meaningful drop in temperature.Meteorologists said weather conditions remained completely dry across the state, with no rainfall recorded anywhere over the past two days.