Mainpat, Once Known As The 'Shimla of Chhattisgarh', No Longer Witnesses Pleasant Weather | ABP News

A signboard proclaiming 'The Shimla of Chhattisgarh' greets visitors as they enter Mainpat town, situated in the Surguja district of the state. However, the description is no longer valid, according to residents of Mainpat, as they say that days when they used to witness snow in the winter months are a thing of the past. Residents say that summers are even more brutal, as maximum temperatures regularly cross 40 degrees Celsius, as they recall summer days from their childhood which used to be spent playing in the sun. Everyone here attributes the changed weather conditions to the large scale felling of trees and the expansion of bauxite mines in the area. The weather office confirms that temperatures in Mainpat are now, far above normal, compared to earlier years. Environmental experts attribute the rising heat in Mainpat -- once known for its pleasant year-round weather -- to the effects of global warming, as well as local factors such as deforestation, the expansion of bauxite mines, and the construction of concrete buildings. These factors, they say, contribute to trapping heat, resulting in increasing surface temperatures.