The weather department said the monsoon has already covered about 80% of the state and is expected to enter the remaining districts within the next three to four days. Officials have also warned of thunderstorms and lightning in several districts over the next seven days, urging people not to take shelter under trees or stand in open areas during bad weather.

The deaths in Balrampur’s Chando police station area have once again highlighted the danger of lightning during the monsoon transition. The two victims were reportedly standing under a tree to escape the rain when lightning struck them in Kandri village on Wednesday evening. Both died on the spot.

In the past 24 hours, light to moderate rain was recorded in parts of the state. Bilaspur recorded the day’s highest maximum temperature at 39.4 degree Celsius, while Pendra Road logged the lowest minimum temperature at 23 degree Celsius, according to weather officials.

Monsoon has now touched more than 18 districts, including Raipur, Durg, Dhamtari, Gariaband, Mahasamund, Balodabazar, Bemetara, Kabirdham, Rajnandgaon, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur.

The remaining districts — including Sarguja, Surajpur, Balrampur, Korea, Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Jashpur, Korba, Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, Bilaspur, Mungeli, Janjgir-Champa, Sakti, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh and Raigarh — could receive official monsoon entry in the next 48 hours, though pre-monsoon rain is already being felt there.

Bastar remains the best-performing region in terms of rain so far, but even there the numbers are below normal. Bastar district received 74.8 mm rainfall against a normal of 142.7 mm, which is 48% less. Dantewada has recorded 49.9 mm against 107.7 mm, while Sukma has seen 60.3 mm, also 54% below normal.

The situation is more worrying in central Chhattisgarh. Raipur has received 25.3 mm rain against a normal of 90.1 mm, a shortfall of 72%. Dhamtari, Durg, Mahasamund and Balodabazar are also far behind average rainfall levels, raising concern for the kharif season.

Some districts are facing severe deficits. Rajnandgaon has recorded just 8.3 mm rainfall against a normal of 100.3 mm, a shortfall of 92%, while Mohla-Manpur-Chowki is down by 95%. Balodabazar, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh and Sakti have also posted rainfall deficits above 80%.

For farmers, the next 10 days are crucial. Because the monsoon arrived late and has remained weak in many areas, most districts have not yet received enough moisture in the soil for sowing. Agriculture-dependent families are now watching the sky closely, hoping the forecasted rainfall will improve field conditions quickly.

Raipur is likely to stay cloudy on Friday, with chances of thunderstorms and rain. The city’s maximum temperature is expected to hover around 38 degree Celsius, while the minimum may stay near 28 degree Celsius.

Satellite images from INSAT show cloud activity increasing over Chhattisgarh, especially in the northern and southern parts of the state. The weather department said the cloud cover is now spreading into the central belt as well, which supports the forecast of stronger rain activity from June 27.

Officials said Sarguja, Balrampur and Jashpur may see dense cloud formation and good rainfall, while southern Bastar could also receive heavy rain and lightning. Raipur, Durg, Dhamtari and Mahasamund are likely to see scattered to moderate showers, and Bilaspur and nearby areas may remain relatively less active in comparison.

The state now faces a mixed picture — relief from the advancing monsoon, but also fresh risk from lightning and uneven rainfall. With the kharif window narrowing, the coming week may prove decisive for both safety and sowing.