Severe heat wave claims another life in Bengal

At a time when the residents of the state are eagerly waiting for a heavy shower to get respite from the extreme heat, the meteorological department’s prediction of sultry and discomforting weather for the next couple of days despite a slight drop in temperature has come up as a reason to worry.

It may be mentioned that a 63-year-old man died due to heat stroke at Malancha Ashrampara in South Dinajpur.

With the formation of a low pressure trough from sub-Himalayan West Bengal to Odisha, Sikkim and Gangetic West Bengal, the southerly wind from Bay of Bengal is carrying in moisture in Kolkata and its adjoining districts those are close to the sea. As a result the moisture level in the city’s atmosphere is going up and resulting to sultry and discomfort weather.

Till Sunday, the city dwellers had experienced dry weather due to the low level of moisture in the air. But with the incursion of the southerly wind the moisture level has gone up on Monday. It has also resulted in a dip in the temperature from 40.2 degree Celsius to 36.6 degree Celsius in one day. 

Monday’s temperature is 2 degree above normal compared to that of 5 degree above normal on Sunday that had resulted due to the heat wave.

Though there was no heat wave on Monday with the drop in the temperature, the city dwellers had to fight against the sultry and discomforting weather.

Moreover, clouds will be visible and there is also thin possibility of a light drizzle with the formation of the low pressure trough in some places. But it will not bring any change in the weather. As per the meteorological department’s prediction this weather pattern will continue for the next one to two days.

But the residents of districts including Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia and Malda will not get respite from heat wave in the one or two days. The temperature in these districts was in between 42 to 45 degree Celsius.

The fourth phase of the election in Howrah and North 24-Parganas passed off peacefully in such a sultry weather. Water packets were distributed among electorates and most of the people cast their votes in the early hours.

People were left in a helpless situation with the sultry and discomfort level in the city on Monday as well. Pedestrians were found sprinkling water on their faces while taking rest under trees.

The 63-year-old man Haranchandra Saha fell on the ground after suffering heat stroke while he was returning from his shop at Malancha Ashrampara in South Dinajpur. The temperature in South Dinajpur was above 40 degree Celsius and he failed to combat heat. He was declared brought dead when taken to hospital.

On April 21, two persons including a Booth level officer who was deployed at Mongolkot in Burdwan died after suffering heat stroke on Thursday.

BLO, Rabindra Nath Ghosh who was assigned to collect information regarding the queue at the polling booths suffered a heat stroke. He was declared dead after being taken to the hospital. 

In another incident, a middle aged person Sundar Lal, a sweeper in Railway died after he suffered a heat stroke in Howrah. Police said that the victim a resident of Tetulia area in Howrah started off on his bicycle and he was going to join his duty.