Maharashtra is unlikely to get any respite from the seething heat in the next few days. The heat wave that has gripped the entire state claimed the lives of two people – one each in Aurangabad and Solapur – till Thursday
While Akola topped the list of the hottest places in the state with the maximum temperature there soaring to 44.0 degree Celsius, Thursday also saw several cities crossing the 40-degree Celsius mark.
The rising temperatures have pushed the state government into action. Minister for Health Deepak Sawant said on Thursday that public hospitals have introduced heat therapy. Separate cells for the treatment of those affected by heat wave have also been set up in public hospitals.
“We have appealed to the people to take necessary precautions in view of the worsening heat wave. Special centres have been started at district and sub-district hospitals,” said Sawant. The government has activated helpline numbers 104 and 108 for the purpose, he added.
The Health Department has issued guidelines for prevention of heat-related illnesses, including stroke.
According to Sunitha Devi, Director, Weather Section, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune the heat wave is likely to continue till April 1 in the Vidharbha region while in Central Maharashtra it is likely persist till March 31 after which people can expect some respite.
“The presence of an anti-cyclone trough, and hot winds coming from Gujarat and Rajasthan are causing the heatwave. We have been issuing warnings about the heat wave for the state of Maharashtra. People have to take precautions,” Devi told DNA.
Meanwhile, senior officials from IMD accused the Maharashtra government of not acting swiftly to tackle the heat wave. While they have been sending a warning for the past few days, the state machinery did not act. “It was after the reports of deaths on Thursday that the state government seemed to wake up from its slumber,'' said a senior IMD official.
“In fact, with the forecast of a harsher summer across Maharashtra in the months of April and May, the state government should draw a plan of action right now,” said the official.
Meanwhile, several cities in Maharashtra also witnessed temperature ranging up to 5 degree Celsius above the normal on Thursday.
MAXIMUM RECORDED TEMPERATURE OF CITIES ON THURSDAY
Nagpur (43.3 degree Celsius), Yavatmal (43.5 degree Celsius), Wardha (43.6 degree Celsius) Amravati (43.0 degree Celsius), Naned (42.5 degree Celsius) Beed (41.0 degree Celsius), Aurangabd (41.1 degree Celsius), Dhule (42.0 degree Celsius) Jalgaon (42.2 degree Celsius), Sholapur (40.7 degree Celsius), Malegaon (42.0 degree Celsius)
WHAT IS A 'HEAT WAVE'
According to IMD officials when the maximum temperatures of a place is consistently 40 degree Celsius or above and temperatures have been around 4 to 6 degree Celsius above normal its considered to be under heat wave.
HOW TO AVOID HEAT WAVE
Don'ts
- Avoid going out in open between 12 noon to 3 pm.
- Avoid consuming liquor, tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks which reduce water content in the body.
- Avoid eating stale food or food which contains high proteins.
- Don't leave domestic animals or children in parked vehicles which have their doors closed.
Do's
- Drink water even when not thirsty
- Wear light colour cotton clothes
- Use goggles, take umbrella cap and shoes or chappals when you go outside.
- Keep house cool, use curtains, use sunshade, open windows at the night.
- Use wet cloth for covering head, neck, and face
- Consult doctor if you feel weakness
- Drink butter milk, lassi, lemon juice and ORS
- Keep animals in shed and provide them adequate water to drink
- Use cold water for bathing
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