Prevailing heat wave continuously affecting normal life, health officials put on alert, leaves cancelled

As Tripura continuously witnesses the scorching heat with mercury rising to nearly 40 degrees Celsius in the pre-norwester season, which has made life miserable in the state; the state government has put the Health Department on alert.

The mercury hovered around 40 degrees Celsius in large parts of the country on Wednesday also, the IMD at Agartala has predicted heat wave conditions across the state over the next two days , but there are predictions of rain and thundershower at isolated places of the state on April 20 and 21st next.

As Tripura is reeling under intense heat along with other parts of the region, the mercury has been hovering between 35-39 degrees Celsius in several Northeastern states also .

The current weather condition witnessing a rise in the temperature several notches above for this time of the season has been declared a 'state disaster'.

Official sources said that considering the prevailing heat wave situation, the Health and Family Welfare Department has cancelled all leaves with immediate effect. Earlier, the state government had announced the closure of all the government and government-aided schools in the state for six days till April 23rd.

Revenue Department's Additional Secretary M U Ahmed said that heat waves, sun stroke and sun burn have been identified as the state specific disasters in Tripura. He said that the state has been reeling under hot weather conditions since last week and, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), similar conditions may continue for a few more days.

Health experts like Dr Kanak Choudhury  have asked people to avoid exposure to blazing sun and heat which might result in sun strokes,

Additional Secretary M U Ahmed, in a notification to all the eight District Magistrates and Collectors requested to take necessary steps for management of heat wave, sun stroke, sun burn by conducting extensive awareness through different media, update weather conditions, provide drinking water, provision of shades, medical supports and other necessary provisions.

The notification also asked all the DMs to activate the emergency operation centres, Quick Response Teams and other resources, ensure uninterrupted power supply to all areas and to take support from other key agencies as and when required.

The Tripura government's Health and Family Welfare Department in a separate notification said that considering the prevailing heat wave situation, the competent authority has decided that all leaves except on critical medical conditions, unavoidable circumstances would be cancelled with immediate effect.

It is anticipated that heat stroke, diarrheal diseases and other communicable diseases may increase due to the prevailing heat wave situation, the notification said, adding that all the Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents, Sub-Divisional Medical Officers, Medical officers in-charge of various hospitals were directed to remain alert and keep strict vigil on the prevailing situation.

The IMD, in a bulletin, said the maximum temperature is expected to be in the range of 35-39 degrees Celsius across Tripura during the next 5 days and fall slightly thereafter.

While, the day temperatures increase by a few notches at 38 degrees Celsius in Agartala, which is 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 on Wednesday  with relative humidity at about 94 percent and recorded a minimum temperature of 27.5 degrees Celsius with minimum departure of plus a few degrees Celsius.

People are advised to take precautionary measures while going outside during the daytime between 10 AM to 3 PM. Sales of various drinks, including tender coconut, juice, 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.