Four states on red alert as heatwave pushes mercury to 45.4 degrees

PTC News Desk: As soaring temperatures grip parts of the country, government agencies issue health warnings and power grids face mounting pressure.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has raised a red alert for Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha, anticipating a severe heatwave over the next two to three days. With several regions already sweltering under intense heat, authorities have issued health advisories and some states have suspended classes to safeguard residents.

In its latest weather bulletin issued on Monday night, the IMD cautioned of “intensely hot conditions” persisting in East India until Wednesday, with the southern peninsula facing the heat for the next five days.

Additionally, an orange alert has been issued for parts of Telangana, Karnataka, and Sikkim, signaling elevated heat levels in these areas.

Monday witnessed scorching temperatures across West Bengal, Gujarat, Bihar, Sikkim, Odisha, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. Notably, Kalaikunda and Kandala in Andhra Pradesh recorded a staggering 45.4 degrees Celsius, eight degrees above normal, while Nandyal city sizzled at 45 degrees Celsius.

Odisha’s Baripada registered the third-highest temperature at 44.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Sheikhpura in Bihar at 44 degrees Celsius. The IMD cautioned that regions under the red alert may witness heat illnesses and heatstroke, urging extreme caution among residents. Similarly, areas under the orange alert may witness health risks with prolonged exposure to the scorching heat.

Over the next five days, Assam, Tripura, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa, Kerala, and Karnataka are expected to experience high humidity, according to the IMD forecast.

This April marks the onset of the second heatwave, with Odisha experiencing heatwave conditions since April 15 and Gangetic West Bengal since April 17. The Met Office predicts four to eight heatwave days across various parts of the country in April, significantly higher than the normal range of one to three days.

For the April-June period, ten to twenty heatwave days are anticipated, exceeding the normal range of four to eight days. Regions such as Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Bihar, and Jharkhand are expected to witness more heatwave days, with some areas possibly surpassing twenty heatwave days.

The intensifying heatwave poses challenges to power grids and raises concerns about water shortages in affected regions across India.

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