Meteorological department warns of thunder, heavy winds across state; Korba tree-fall kills three, Raipur likely to see 41°C daytime high

Relief from the recent heatwave was short-lived as the State Meteorological Department on Sunday forecast thunder, lightning, heavy winds and localized rain over the next five days, with gusts likely reaching 50–60 kilometres per hour in parts of the state. The warning comes a day after a sudden storm in Korba’s Pali police station area caused a fatal tree collapse that killed three youths.

What happened in Korba
Saturday evening’s storm struck without much lead time, sending people rushing for cover. According to local police and hospital sources, three young men who took shelter under a large roadside tree in Pali were fatally injured when a heavy branch snapped and fell on them. Initial reports say the men were pronounced dead at the scene; their identities are being verified and an inquest has been ordered, officials said.

Other local impacts
Across the state, showers and gusty winds were reported in Raipur, Sarguja and Pendra. In Pendra, authorities reported that strong winds tore off a tin shed and uprooted at least one tree. No casualties were reported from those incidents. Meteorological data for the past 24 hours showed Durg recorded the highest daytime temperature at 42.6°C, while Pendra Road logged a minimum of 24.2°C.

What the forecast says
The meteorological department issued a fresh advisory early Sunday, warning of thunder, lightning, heavy winds and isolated heavy rainfall over various districts through the coming five days. Officials said two trough systems — one extending from central Pakistan to the Andhra coast and another active in the upper levels from the Bay of Bengal to the Lakshadweep region — are pumping moisture into the region and destabilising the atmosphere.

“Due to these systems, we expect convective activity across Chhattisgarh. Wind gusts of 50–60 km/h are possible at isolated places, along with lightning and scattered heavy showers,” a state meteorological official told reporters. The forecast specifically named Raipur, Durg, Korba, Sarguja and adjacent districts as areas likely to be affected.

Local advisory and safety tips
State authorities urged people to avoid standing under trees, stay away from power poles and open fields during storms, and secure loose objects that can be blown away by strong winds. The department also advised farmers to protect standing crops and fishermen to avoid venturing into seas or large reservoirs until advisories are lifted.

Raipur outlook
For the state capital, forecasters expect the sky to remain partly to mostly cloudy on Sunday with chances of thunder, dust squalls or brief heavy rain during the day. Raipur’s daytime temperature is likely to hover around 41°C, with a minimum near 28°C, offering modest relief from the more extreme highs recorded earlier in the week.

Wider context
Weather officials said daytime temperatures across the state have already fallen by 2–3 degrees Celsius in the last 24 hours, and another 2–3 degree drop is possible over the next two days as convective activity continues. However, they cautioned that the accompanying winds and lightning will pose hazards, especially where infrastructure is vulnerable.

Ground reaction
Residents in low-lying and open areas reported sudden changes in wind direction and rapid cloud build-up on Saturday evening. “The sky darkened within minutes and the wind hit so hard that sheets of the temporary market stalls started flapping,” said one trader in Pendra, who declined to be named. Local civic bodies said they are on alert and monitoring vulnerable trees and electricity lines.

What’s next
Authorities said district administrations have been asked to keep disaster response teams on standby and to coordinate with power and road departments for quick restoration work if needed. The meteorological department will review the situation daily and issue updates; people are being asked to follow local alerts and exercise caution during outdoor activities.