Heat wave claims yet another life

People from the city and its adjoining areas will not get any respite from the heat in next few days, the Alipore meteorological office has predicted.

A rickshaw puller died on Thursday after suffering a sun stroke at Farakka in Murshidabad. Local residents took the victim to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. Doctors confirmed that the victim died after suffering from a sun stroke.

Many parts in Dooars received hailstorm on Thursday evening, bringing much awaited respite for the people living in North Bengal. The temperature also dropped. In the afternoon, the sky became dark and by the evening, a hail storm had hit many parts of North Bengal. Many trees were uprooted by the strong wind, though there were no reports of any damage of huts.

People in South Bengal districts are eagerly waiting for the rain, which will bring some relief from the scorching sun and excessive heat wave. During the day, the heat wave has been sweeping across various Southern districts, including Kolkata. People can also feel the high temperature even in the evening and are uncomfortable and uneasy due to high level of humidity. 

According to the MeT office, the heat wave will prevail for two more days. Temperature may also go up in the Southern districts. With the mercury soaring beyond the normal limit, there has been a crisis of drinking water in some pockets of Purulia and Bankura.

The fifth phase of elections is scheduled to take place in the three districts of Kolkata, Hooghly and South 24-Parganas on 30 April amidst hot and humid weather. The Election Commission of India has instructed the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) to take all necessary action, especially adequate arrangements of drinking water for the polling personnel in the remote areas of the districts.

The commission has also advised the district administration to have some medical arrangements and urged various political parties to hold rallies in covered areas so that people are not exposed to the sun rays in excessive summer heat.