As summer scorcher burns up, CG gears up for heatwave
Raipur: As temperatures breach 43 degrees Celsius across several districts in Chhattisgarh, the state health department has gone into emergency mode to tackle a looming heatwave crisis.
With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting further rise in temperatures—touching 44°C in places like Rajnandgaon and Bilaspur—the govt has issued clear directives and intensified preparations to prevent heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
Raipur, Bilaspur and Rajnandgaon have been sizzling hot with maximum temperatures touching 42-44 degrees Celsius. The weather department warned that the next 48 hours will see further temperature spikes, followed by isolated thunderstorm activity in some districts during late evenings
In Raipur, roads wore a deserted look by afternoon as blistering heat and heavy traffic zones emptied out.
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Speaking to TOI, Dr Smriti Dewangan, deputy director for the national programme on climate change and human health (NPCCHH) and disaster management, emphasized urgent medical response for heatstroke.
"Emergency cooling mechanisms like dark cooling rooms, tub baths, ice-making machines, and cold water units are now operational in Raipur's district hospital and will be rolled out across all districts shortly. Once the body temperature hits 104°F, it stops its natural cooling. Immediate intervention is essential," Dr Smriti said.
Dr. Smriti also noted, "Heatstroke is now a notifiable condition, requiring hospitals to conduct audits and postmortem reviews in suspected cases of heat-related deaths. We've instructed all health facilities to maintain readiness. This is not just seasonal anymore—heat-related illness is officially recognized under the climate-health linkage. Daily reporting dashboards have been active for the past few years."
The state has adopted the "cool first, transport later" strategy, as per NPCCHH guidelines. This means on-site emergency cooling of patients before transferring them to hospitals—a critical step to prevent fatalities.
As per guidelines, the district-level and city-level Heat Health Action Plans (HHAPs) are now in motion, with task force meetings underway to coordinate surveillance data, ambulance preparedness, and health worker deployment.
With April heating up and May expected to be harsher, the state health machinery is racing against the clock to ensure zero fatalities from the heatstroke.
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