IMD issues yellow alert as heat wave persits in Haryana, Punjab

Bathinda: Heat wave conditions persisted across Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for both states till April 24 and govts warning of heat-related health risks.Heat wave conditions are declared when temperatures cross 40°C in plains and are 4.5°C to 6.4°C above normal. In Haryana, Bopani in Faridabad district was the hottest at 42.9°C, while Bathinda in Punjab recorded 41.6°C. Gusty winds of up to 35 kmph were reported in parts of both states, including Faridkot and Hisar.Amid the rising heat, Punjab health minister Balbir Singh urged vulnerable groups, including the elderly and children, to take precautions. "Heat exposure increases the risk of heat stress, exhaustion and heatstroke, and can aggravate cardiovascular and respiratory conditions," he said.The minister said dedicated heatstroke management units have been made operational at district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals and community health centres, equipped with cooling measures, ORS and emergency drugs. Ambulances have also been readied to provide pre-hospital cooling.The impact of the heat is being felt acutely in grain markets across both states, where wheat procurement is under way, forcing farmers and labourers to remain outdoors for long hours.