Ahmedabad: City scorches at 44.4°C, heatwave to persist

Ahmedabad: The city endured intense heat on Tuesday, with the mercury touching 44.4 degrees celsius, marginally higher than 44.3 degrees recorded on Monday. This was 2.8 degrees above normal. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, the maximum temperature may reach 45°C on Wednesday.

There was little relief for residents even after sunset, as the minimum temperature stood at 29.4°C, 2.3 degrees above normal. Experts noted that when the city fails to cool sufficiently before the next heat cycle begins, citizens — especially those working long hours outdoors — face heat stress even during afternoon and evening hours. The prolonged heat has already led to a rise in cases of vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, body aches, and general ill health, according to city-based doctors.

“No major change in maximum temperatures is expected over the next three days. Thereafter, a fall of 2-4 degrees celsius is very likely across the region. Maximum temperatures are likely to remain between 41-45°C in some pockets of the state over the next three days,” the forecast said.

The forecast placed Surendranagar and Kutch under an Orange Alert, while Banaskantha, Patan, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Amreli, Devbhoomi Dwarka, and Botad were under Yellow Alert on Wednesday and Thursday.

Surendranagar and Amreli recorded the highest maximum temperature at 44.5°C, followed by 44.4 degrees in Ahmedabad and 43.7 degrees in Gandhinagar, among others. Several parts of central and western India are witnessing heatwave conditions, according to the IMD bulletin.