Jharkhand Heatwave Alert: Hot & Humid Conditions Expected in Eastern Districts

Ranchi: Parts of the state will witness hot and humid summers in the coming days, followed by heatwave-like conditions, the Met office said on Wednesday.

The Met office on Wednesday issued a heat warning from Thursday to Saturday for Pakur, Dumka, Deoghar, Jamtara, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Saraikela-Kharsawan, West Singhbhum and East Singhbhum districts.

Deputy director of Ranchi Met office, Abhishek Anand, said residents of northeast and southeast parts of state should keep themselves hydrated. “People of these districts should eat fruits with high water content such as grapes, oranges, watermelons and cucumbers to keep themselves hydrated,” Anand said.

On Thursday, hot and humid conditions are likely at isolated places over the northeastern and southeastern parts of the state, the ulletin said.

For Friday and Saturday, thunderstorm/lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) are likely at isolated places over northwestern and central parts of the state, while hot and humid day conditions are likely at isolated places over northeastern and southeastern parts.

“The hot and humid situation will prevail mostly in the districts adjoining Bengal. This has been observed in the past four to five years,” Anand said.

Summers in Jharkhand used to be dry earlier. “Even Ranchi becomes humid now. These are effects of climate change, which is happening due to a lot of factors such as deforestation, unplanned urbanisation and constant increase of the concrete jungles,” Anand added.

Dr Vidyapati, former head and dean of the medicine department at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims), said, “People should wear cotton clothes and drink lots of fluids. Perspiration is necessary during such conditions and so cotton clothes are a must.”

In the past 24 hours till 8:30 am on Wednesday, light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms occurred at isolated places. The highest rainfall of 16.4 mm was recorded at Tenughat (Bokaro) along with hailstorms. The highest maximum temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius was recorded at Daltonganj, while the lowest of 18.1C was recorded at Khunti. The maximum temperature recorded in the city was 33.8C.