After giving a harrowing time to people of Chhattisgarh for the last fortnight, the mercury took a down turn giving much respite from scorching heat for the last two days. The down turn of the mercury is credited to disturbances occurred in the weather system over the Bay of Bengal.
Notably, for the last fortnight, to the much discomfort of the people the mercury was hovering around 45 – 46 degree Celsius in the state creating ‘luh’ like situation. Also, hot westerly winds blowing from Rajasthan side was abetting the rise in temperature making the state capital as well as neighbouring district Bilaspur like an open hearth. People had to keep themselves indoor as also schools declared summer recess to avoid sunstroke to children.
But, from Saturday evening itself weather took a down turn as many parts of Chhattisgarh, including capital Raipur received light drizzle as also the maximum temperature dipped to 39 degree Celsius.
On Monday too, the cloudy situation prevailed throughout the day with mercury hovering around 41 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature in state capital was 41.5 degrees C while minimum temperature was recorded 27.7 degrees, Bilaspur again remained hottest with maximum temperature of 43 degrees, 3 degrees less than Saturday’s and minimum 26.9 degrees Celsius.
Ambikapur recorded maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees and minimum 26.2 degrees Celsius whereas Jagdalpur, the southernmost part of Chhattisgarh, recorded 39.5 degree max temperature and 28.0 degree Celsius minimum temperature.
According to Met department officials ‘Mahasen cyclone situated about 850 km south east of Chennai coast over Bay of Bengal has created a trough/wind discontinuity in the lower levels from North Chhattisgarh to north Andhra Pradesh due to which cloudy situation prevailed. Due to this light to moderate rain or thundershower may occur at isolated places over Chhattisgarh.
According to weather experts, the cyclone over Bay of Bengal will shift towards north-west direction for the next 36 hours and thereafter advance to Bangladesh-Myanmar coast after that the temperature will pick up again.