AMN /
Several parts of India are facing intense heatwave for last few days. In Odisha, temperature at 8 places remained above 44 degrees Celsius today. Western Odisha town Sonepur sizzled at the highest 46.5, while the day time temperature of Titlagarh dropped by 3 degrees Celsius from Sunday’s record of 48.5 degrees Celsius to 45.5 today.
99 persons have died due to heatwave in Odisha so far. Keeping in view the unrelenting heat wave which has been sweeping across the State for the past fortnight, the government pre-poned summer vacation of schools from today.
The intense heat wave conditions are continuing in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Chandrapur recorded the highest maximum temperature of 44.6 degrees Celsius in the region today. Nagpur, Wardha and Brahmapuri also inked a temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius during the day.
Vidarbha is not just grappling with the scorching heat but also with the scarcity of water and load shedding in many areas. The receding levels in major reservoirs and acute shortage of water could also hamper the power generation in this region, which in turn, may lead to cascading effect on the lives of the people and industrial production.
The horticulturists are also facing a lot of problems due to the water shortage and the issue of drinking water availability for the domestic animals as well as those in the zoo and forests has become critical. The Forest Department has already initiated several steps in order to ensure water supply to the wild animals through different water bodies and holes created for them.
The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to provide 50 per cent drought allowance to labourers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme. The move follows death of 13 job seekers during the heat wave in the state.
Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Minister Ayyanna Patrudu informed our correspondent in Hyderabad that the orders will be issued in a day or two to provide assured wages to the job seekers during heat wave period. Stating that the allowance is aimed at filling the wage gap due to reduced working hours, he said the labourers are now working from 6 to 10 in the morning ever since the heat wave conditions prevailed in the state.
In Bihar too, due to severe heat conditions, Patna district administration today declared summer vacation in all schools from 5th of next month. Meanwhile, Patna MeT Department has predicted that there would be no respite from the heatwave over the next two days even though the maximum temperature may come down by a few notches.
