GUWAHATI/ AGARTALA: The northeast reeled under scorching heat on Thursday, with the daytime temperature inching up to six to eight degrees above normal. Silchar (39.8 Celsius) recorded the highest temperature in the seven northeast states. In Agartala , where 96% humidity was recorded, there has been a peak in the power demand over the last three days.A spokesperson of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) based in Guwahati told TOI that apart from Silchar, high temperatures were recorded in Guwahati (38 Celsius), North Lakhimpur (38.2 Celsius), Jorhat (37.7 Celsius), Tezpur (37 Celsius), Dibrugarh (37.4 Celsius) and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh (36.8 Celsius) on Thursday mainly because of reduction in rainfall in the northeast during the last few days.On Thursday, the maximum temperature was 7.9 Celsius higher than normal in Silchar, while in Guwahati the maximum temperature of the day was 6.2 Celsius above normal."A low pressure area lies over central parts of north Madhya Pradesh and its neighbourhood. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 4.5 km above mean sea level. Another low pressure area lies over north west Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood and extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level tilting southwestwards with height. The axis of monsoon trough at mean sea level passes through Anupgarh, Jaipur, Gwalior, the centre of low pressure area over central parts of north Madhya Pradesh and neighbourhood, Daltonganj, Jamshedpur, another centre of low pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood, and thence east-southeastwards to east central Bay of Bengal and extends up to 2.1 km above mean sea level," said the Met spokesperson.He stated that the prevailing weather conditions are obstructing moisture from entering the northeast and thus less rainfall has been experienced in the region during the last few days, thus causing the rise in temperature in the region.However, the Met spokesperson said rainfall will increase in northeast from July 21, which is likely to bring relief from the currently prevalent hot and humid conditions.In Tripura, the temperature was recorded to be 36 Celsius on Thursday, compounding the discomfort caused by the high humidity level. Roads wore a deserted look in urban areas and attendance at government offices, including hospitals, was low. Schools and colleges also recorded low attendance due to the heat and humidity.The peak hour demand of power in the last three days has risen to 265 MW even as loadhedding has become frequent outside the capital.Health department officials said the prevailing weather conditions have given rise to seasonal coughs, fever, vector-borne diseases and other ailments. They also advised people to increase intake of water, fruits and curd to maintain body temperature.

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