IMD issues alert as heatwave sweeps Odisha

  • | Monday | 18th June, 2018

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heat wave warning across Odisha for next 48 hours and forecasted that that there will no respite from the scorching heat till June 22. BHUBANESWAR: Capital Bhubaneswar continued to be the hottest place in the state for the second consecutive day on Monday while the whole state reeled under searing heat. Deputy relief commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said the government’s standing instructions issued to all collectors during summer still continued. However he said total number of allegations of sunstroke deaths recorded by their office this summer stood 35 spread over 16 districts. The temperature will be soar further in central and interior areas of the state.

BHUBANESWAR: Capital Bhubaneswar continued to be the hottest place in the state for the second consecutive day on Monday while the whole state reeled under searing heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heat wave warning across Odisha for next 48 hours and forecasted that that there will no respite from the scorching heat till June 22. The sudden rise in temperature and high humidity levels has thrown normal life out of gear and leading to rise in discomfort and uneasiness among people.“We have issued heatwave alert in most districts of the state for the next 48 hours. The temperature will be soar further in central and interior areas of the state. High temperature will continue for next few days though one or two places in the state may witness Nor’wester rain or thundershowers in the next 24 hours,” said IMD’s regional director at Bhubaneswar centre, H R Biswas.The weakening of southwest monsoon and blowing of westerly hot winds from Central India has led to the rise in temperature in the state. The monsoon had hit Odisha two days before its scheduled date on June 8, but did not get momentum subsequently.Official report said mercury at 16 places in the state was hovering over 40 degree Celsius. Bhubaneswar and Baripada recorded highest 42.2 degree Celsius in the state.“Nine O’clock is too late, the sun is unbearable by 7 in the morning. Usually such high temperature is witnessed in the month of May and in June weather becomes cool after the onset of monsoon. But this year summer months of April and May were cooler and pleasant but June became so harsh and unbearable,” said Saswati Acharya, a homemaker.Roads and markets in the city are getting deserted by 9 am in the morning and affected the business of roadside vendors and other shops as well. “Unless someone has any emergency work people don’t prefer to come out of houses, let alone shopping or buying things. I have stopped procurement as green vegetables are being damaged in the heat,” said Kartika Swain, a vendor in Unit-I haat.Unscheduled power cuts several times in a day have been adding to the woes of general public. “We are unable to stay indoors or go out. In every ten minutes power is going out for half an hour or more. Voltage is so low that fans are not moving. It seems nature’s fury was not enough that the electricity people have started torturing,” said Madan Mohan Rath, a senior citizen.In the wake of heatwave alert Odisha government has extended summer holidays by three more days and schools will reopen on June 21 instead of June 18. “I don’t think children can sit for long hours in schools in this searing hot. If it does not rain before June 21 the holidays should be extended further,” said Samapika Das, a school teacher.With heat wave condition showing no sign of relief, the government meanwhile, also directed to treat possible sunstroke patient on emergency basis. Deputy relief commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said the government’s standing instructions issued to all collectors during summer still continued. However he said total number of allegations of sunstroke deaths recorded by their office this summer stood 35 spread over 16 districts. Of them six cases were confirmed so far after official enquiry.

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