People had no respite from the blazing sun on Saturday as well, as the temperatures hovered above 42 degree Celsius throughout the State with State capital Raipur (Mana area) and Bilaspur remaining worst hit with temperature touching 46 degrees Celsius mark.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature of Raipur also registered 1.1 degree Celsius increase taking it to 29.4 as people felt the pinch of heat in night also.
Minimum temperature of Durg and Pendra also registered 1.1 degree increase whereas the minimum temperature of Jagdalpur, the southern-most region of the state, registered decrease of 1.2 degree Celsius.
Due to the hot air blowing from Rajasthan side the entire State has been under the influence of ‘luh’ like situation even as the Met officials warned further rise in temperature unless any system develops in the weather system.
According to weather experts, hot westerly winds coming from Rajasthan are showing their impacts in Chhattisgarh as moisture has virtually disappeared giving a touch of burning on the skin. Hot air rising in Chhattisgarh plains is also abetting rise in temperature.
Presently, Raipur and Bilaspur are the worst hit places as for the last couple of days temperature is running above 45 degree Celsius giving people frightful time to venture out. Bilaspur and Man area of Raipur again touched 46 degree temperature on Saturday, highest so far this season. Durg registered maximum temperature of 44.6 degree, Pendra Road 42.0 degrees, Ambikapur 43.0 degrees whereas Jagdalpur recorded maximum 42.1 degree Celsius.
In the state capital, heat waves started blowing right from noon as most of the roads bore a deserted look, second Saturday being a holiday for government staff and many schools declaring their summer vacation. People in general avoided venturing out during noon to avoid the pangs of sun stroke.
Due to the rising heat most of the ponds dotting the city and its surrounding areas have started drying up fast leading to people feeling great difficulty in carrying out even their day-to-day chores. According to Met department during the next 24 hours the weather would be completely dry with ‘luh’ conditions continuing without letup.