As Tripura reels under intense heat wave and mercury touching recorded high temperatures during past fortnight, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), in a bulletin, said that due to prevailing northwesterly and westerly dry hot air and high solar insolation, maximum temperature (in day time) is expected to be in the range of 35-39 degrees Celsius across Tripura during the next 5 days and fall slightly thereafter.

In the present month of April, the state after a gap of nine years has witnessed 39 degrees plus Celsius temperatures, which has prevails the very hot and discomportable weather across the state

People are advised to take precautionary measures while going outside during day time between 10 AM to 3 PM.

Sales of various drinks including cold drinks and ice cream have risen sharply, with local vendors doing brisk business.

The long dry weather has also led to water sources drying up resulting in a drinking water crisis in hilly, remote rural areas. Besides, the drying up of water sources has caused problems for farmers in cultivating summer crops in the state. While, reports said that as the state's power demand rises in the peak hours during the past few weeks, many parts of the state have also witnessed frequent load-shedding and power cuts. Few areas of Agartala have also witnessed power cuts for a short period during the past few days.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials in Agartala said that the state is witnessing rising temperatures of above 38 degrees Celsius since April 12 and its in Agartala have also reached at the level of 39.3 degrees Celsius on April 14 and 15 last with relative humidity of above 80%.

Nahush Kulkarni, Agartala station director of India Meteorological department (IMD) said that the capital city of Agartala since 1972 has witnessed 39 degrees plus Celsius temperature three times; these are on April 24th, 2014 and April 14 and 15 of 2023. But, it has witnessed 38 degrees plus temperatures in this time of season, especially in the month of April six times in the last 51 years.

The IMD has also predicted on Tuesday (April 18), the state will witness dry weather with temperatures ranging from 37 degrees and to 39 degrees Celsius and on next April 19, the temperatures will plunge to 36 to 38 degrees. The state can witness rain and thunderstorms in isolated places on April 20 and 21st next.

Agartala on Monday recorded a temperature at 38 degrees Celsius which is at least 4.3 degrees higher than normal temperature at this time of the year.  Similarly, other parts of the state also witnessed scorching heat during the past fortnight. The city remained hottest today with relative humidity at about 92 percent and recorded a maximum temperature of 38 degrees Celsius and minimum recorded temperature of 27.8 degrees Celsius with minimum departure of plus 4.9 degrees Celsius.

The IMD, Agartala has also advised the people to avoid going out in the sun, especially between morning 10AM to 3 PM, drink more water than usual, wear lightweight, light-coloured, and porous cotton clothes. Use protective goggles, umbrella, hat while going out in sun, avoid alcohol, tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks, which dehydrates the body, avoid high-protein food and do not eat stale food, use homemade drinks like lassi, lemon water, buttermilk, ORS, etc. which helps to re-hydrate the body and  keep animals in shade and give them plenty of water to drink.

IMD also advised the farmers to continue irrigation activities in summer maize, pulses and other crops and vegetables and  are advised to provide proper shelter and ventilation to animals especially during afternoon hours.