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By India Today News Desk: Heatwave conditions are likely to prevail over West Bengal, Bihar and coastal Andhra Pradesh for the next four to five days, the India Meterological Department (IMD) said in its latest weather bulletin. The weather agency has predicted that temperatures may go up in Punjab and Haryana in the next two days and abate thereafter.
The IMD said a western disturbance active over the western Himalayan region is predicted to bring a fresh spell of rain in the plains starting Monday.
“Heat wave conditions are likely over West Bengal, Bihar and Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 4-5 days; over Punjab and Haryana in the next 2 days and abate thereafter. A fresh spell of rainfall over the Western Himalayan Region from 16th April and over the plains of northwest India from 18th April,” the IMD said.
SCHOOLS SHUT IN WEST BENGAL
The West Bengal government has decided to shut all educational institutions in the state next week in view of the “severe” heatwave conditions.
“All educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, will remain closed from Monday till Saturday next week, keeping in mind the severe heatwave conditions,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.
The school and higher education departments later clarified that the closure due to the heatwave will be effective across the state except the hill areas, news agency PTI reported.
“Considering the prevailing heatwave situation, the competent authority in the state government has decided all autonomous/state/central government aided and private universities/affiliating colleges in the state of West Bengal, except hill areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, will remain closed with effect from April 17 for a week or until further order, whichever is earlier,” the higher education department notification said, asking the vice chancellors of varsities to take necessary steps.
TEMP TO TOUCH 40 DEGREES CELSIUS IN BENGAL
A meteorological department bulletin said the mercury level is most likely to reach around 40 degrees C in the next 24 hours in Kolkata. On Sunday, the maximum and minimum temperatures in the city settled at 39.8 degrees Celsius and 29.6 degrees C, respectively.
Sourish Banerjee, a senior officer of Met department, said, “Temperature will likely go up from Monday as the temperature is expected to rise in every district of North and South Bengal.”
“Heatwaves will continue in most of the parts of south Bengal including Malda, north and south Dinajpur of North Bengal,” said officials in Kolkata.
Most places in the state have been recording day temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius, and the Met department has forecast that heatwave conditions will continue till April 19.
HEATWAVE ALERT IN BIHAR
Severe heatwave conditions are expected to prevail in Bihar in the next three-four days, said the government in a weather bulletin.
The mercury crossed the 42 degrees Celsius mark in at least five places in the state. Aurangabad district recorded a maximum temperature of 43 degree Celsius on Saturday.
A maximum temperature of 43.2 degree Celsius was recorded in Dehri block of Rohtas, Khizarsarai Block of Gaya and Warisaliganj of Nawada Districts on Friday.
“People are advised to avoid heat exposure, keep cool and avoid dehydration. Besides, district authorities have also been advised to monitor the situation in their respective districts. The situation is being closely monitored by the state Disaster Management department,” Bihar Disaster Management minister Shahnawaz told PTI on Saturday.
Five districts recorded a maximum day temperature of 42 degrees Celsius or more on Saturday, maximum day temperature of 43 degrees Celsius was recorded in Aurangabad.
HEATWAVE IN DELHI, RAIN LIKELY
Heatwave conditions prevailed at isolated places in Delhi on Sunday and a fresh spell of rain will provide some relief starting Monday, an IMD official told PTI.
Delhi’s primary weather station, the Safdarjung Observatory, logged a maximum temperature of 40.4 degrees Celsius, three notches more than normal. The minimum temperature settled at 22 degrees Celsius, which is normal for this time of the year.
Several places in the national capital recorded a maximum temperature three to four degrees Celsius above normal. The automatic weather station in Pitampura recorded a heatwave, with the maximum temperature (41.9 degrees Celsius) settling five notches above normal.
DEATHS DUE TO HEAT-RELATED HEALTH ISSUES IN MAHA
In Maharashtra, more than 120 people suffered from heat-related health issues, like dehydration, due exposure to sunlight on Sunday during a mega event in Navi Mumbai, reported PTI. The event was organised as social activist Dattatreya Narayan alias Appasaheb Dharmadhikari was given the Maharashtra Bhushan award.
Thirteen of these people were admitted to different local hospitals and the condition of one of them is serious, an official said.
The ground was packed with people and equipped with audio/video facilities for followers of Shree Sadasya (Dharmadhikari’s organisation) to witness the function. The seating arrangement for the attendees was made in the open and there was no shed.
“A total of 123 people complained of heat-related health ailments, like dehydration during the event. They were immediately referred to the 30 medical booths set up at the venue. Thirteen of the patients, who needed further treatment, were shifted to different private hospitals and the condition of one of them is serious,” a revenue department official, who was on duty at the venue, said.
The weather office, in its latest weather bulletin, has predicted that maximum temperatures in Maharashtra are likely to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius during the next five days.
(With inputs from Rittick Mondal and agencies)
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