Heatwave warning issued for 8 states; check dos and don'ts

PTC Web Desk: The India Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued heatwave warning for eight states. The states include West Bengal, Bihar, Sikkim, Odisha, Jharkhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh  and Andhra Pradesh.

Amid increasing heat wave in parts of India, experts have advised people to avoid going outside between 11 am and  3 pm. Temperatures are  also likely to go up in Punjab and Haryana in the days ahead and abate thereafter, the IMD has warned. The maximum temperature is likely to settle at 41 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre, New Delhi.

The weather department said heatwave conditions would continue over East India during the next four days and abate thereafter.

There is also wet spell over northwest India from April 18 to 20 with possibility of heavy spell over Western Himalayan Region on April 18 and 19. 

As per information, on Monday, the maximum temperatures were in the range of 40-44°C over most parts of Central & east India; in many parts of plains of Northwest India and some parts over northern parts of peninsular India; 35-40°C over many parts of rest of the country except over Western Himalayan Region (22- 25°C) and Islands (30-34°C).

Heatwave conditions are prevailing in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal for the past seven 7 days; Coastal Andhra Pradesh for the past 5 days, Bihar four four days and Punjab and Haryana for the last two days.

In Northwest India, light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning very is likely over Western Himalayan Region during next four days and isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning/gusty winds over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan from April 18 to 21.

What do experts recommend? 

Experts say due to the high temperature in the summer season, there is a shortage of water in the body, known as dehydration. This leads to fatigue, headache, high fever, fainting, dark coloured urine and burning in the eyes. To avoid heat stroke, they recommended drinking of water frequently, having juicy fruits, and drinking ORS solution to prevent dehydration.

They added that to prevent heat stroke fast, a bath of cold or ice water has been proved to be the most effective way. The quicker one can receive cold water immersion, the less risk of death and organ damage.