Yellow alert for heat, humidity in 12 Kerala districts till Saturday

Kochi: Raising health concerns, IMD has issued a yellow alert for hot and humid weather in 12 districts, except Idukki and Wayanad, till Saturday According to the met department bulletin, maximum temperature rose to 40°C at isolated places in Palakkad on Tuesday. It warned this would prevail till Saturday. Current temperatures are 3.3 degrees above normal. Meanwhile, Punalur weather station reported 38°C on Tuesday. Weather stations at Kannur airport, Kottayam, Cial Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram city, Vellanikkara, Kozhikode, Karipur airport, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram airport and naval air station in Kochi recorded over 33°C on Tuesday. Meanwhile, relative humidity touched 73% in Thiruvananthapuram city, causing high moisture level in the air. As the rising temperatures pose serious health concerns, IMD suggested avoiding prolonged exposure to heat; wearing lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes; covering your head using a cloth, hat or umbrella while outdoors; drinking sufficient water even if not thirsty to avoid dehydration; scheduling strenuous jobs to cooler times of the day, and increasing the frequency and length of rest breaks for outdoor activities. It also said that pregnant workers and workers with medical conditions should be given additional attention, cautioning workers to avoid direct sunlight from 11am to 3pm, keeping cattle indoors during these hours, and not leaving children or pets in parked vehicles.Rivers across Palakkad show signs of drying upMeanwhile, rivers across Palakkad, including the Bharathapuzha, are showing visible signs of drying up, raising concerns of an impending drought-like situation.The district has consistently recorded the highest temperatures in the state this season, with the mercury touching 40.1°C.The rising heat has also disrupted daily life and labour-intensive sectors, particularly construction, with outdoor work becoming near impossible between 11am and 3pm."Now we start work at 6am and finish by around 2pm. By then, the heat leaves us exhausted. If we do not drink enough water during work, the fatigue becomes worse the next day, and sometimes we are unable to go to work," said Chanchal Singh, a Bihar native working in the construction sector in Pattambi.Environmental experts have flagged serious concerns over the condition of Bharathapuzha, often described as the lifeline of the district."The groundwater level in the riverbanks is very low. Continuous sand mining is a major reason. During summer, water from wells in riverbank areas gets drawn into the river, causing drought conditions in nearby habitations," said Vinod Nambiar, general secretary of Friends of Bharathapuzha.He added, "Places like Chittur and Pattambi have already entered an ecological red zone. Even drinking water projects are facing shortages as water availability in the river has declined."He further noted that the heat has begun to impact the river's ecosystem. "Bird species usually seen in hotter regions are now increasingly found along the riverbanks," he said.Water levels in major reservoirs in the district have also dropped compared to last year. Dams at Malampuzha, Meenkara, Walayar, Pothundi, Mangalam and Chulliyar are all witnessing a concerning decline.The situation has been aggravated by a sharp fall in summer rainfall. While Palakkad typically receives an average of 53.4mm rainfall during March and April, only 23.2mm has been recorded this year, contributing to rising temperatures and water scarcity.