West Bengal reels under scorching heat, death toll reaches six

The heat wave continues to sweep through South Bengal districts and also in some parts of North Bengal claiming more lives. A businessman from Malancha in South Dinajpur reportedly died after suffering from heat stroke. 

However, the district administration is yet to confirm whether the man died due to heat stroke. 

It may be mentioned that five people have died in the last three days after suffering from heat stroke. Alipore Meteorological office has predicted that the heat wave will prevail in the city, all the South Bengal and western districts. 

The temperature may also go up in the next couple of days, the Met office has alerted. There is also an alert of heat wave in some parts of North Bengal including Malda, South and North Dinajpur. According to the weather office, there is no possibility of rain at South Bengal districts in next three days. What is more worrying for the city dwellers is that the temperature may go up by few notches, as per the prediction of the Alipore met office. 

The temperature has dropped in various parts of North Bengal after the areas had witnessed intermittent rain. The people from the northern parts have been enjoying the comfortable whether but in South Bengal people are facing hot and humid condition. 

According to the Met office, it may rain in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar whereas in Bankura, Birbhum and Burdwan there is a heat wave alert. The temperature of the city and its adjoining areas will hover around 39-40 degrees in the next two days. But in case of the western districts like Midnapore, Burdwan, Bankura and Purulia, the temperature will remain around 40-43 degrees Celsius in the next two days. 

The atmosphere in the city is very warm and sultry as hot air has been entering into the state from Jharkhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. The elections will take place in 49 Assembly constituencies in North 24-Parganas and Howrah on Monday amidst the hot and humid condition. The district administrations have taken up an elaborate arrangement so that the polling personnel do not face any problems due to excessive heat. 

It may be mentioned that in previous two phases two polling personnel died after suffering from heat stroke while discharging duties during the polls. Water, ORS and other necessary items were being arranged by the district administrations for the polling officers in the remote areas.