Kolkatans sweat, three perish as mercury climbs 8 degrees above normal

Kolkata: The Alipore Regional Meteorological office on Tuesday predicted little respite from the torrid weather conditions in the city at least till Wednesday, with three persons allegedly succumbing to the terrible heat in the state.

Temperature in the city soared to 40.6 degree Celsius (eight degrees above normal), as most of the leading private schools in the city declared their institutions closed from June 20 to 22.

"The heat wave will continue till Wednesday afternoon in South Bengal. The temperature will dip marginally from Thursday, in the districts located along the coastline. However, chances of rain are minimal before June 23," said Sanjib Bandyopadhyay, deputy director general of meteorology.

He added that the monsoon winds will become active between June 23 to 25 and will proceed to the Odisha coastline from Bihar, making the weather conditions favourable for rain.

"The cloudy weather condition in the city is the result of a trough extending from Bihar to North Bengal. This will add to the discomfort and the night temperature is likely to soar above 30 degree Celsius in the next few days. So, the sultry conditions will be prevalent during night as well," a senior weather official maintained.

According to the weather office, sporadic rain in the afternoon in North 24-Parganas will bring relief for a very short period, while the discomfort index will remain the

same.

A moderate heat wave is sweeping through South Bengal and Kolkata for the last few days, courtesy westerly winds that have been flowing in from North India.

Kolkata's 'Real Feel' temperature reached above 43°C on Tuesday afternoon. "The monsoon currents have turned weak and have remained virtually static since last week," a weather official said.

Meanwhile, a lady aged around 40 years suddenly fell ill inside a Habra-Majherhat local train in Birati station, at around 12 noon. Daily passengers took her to North Dum Dum Municipality Hospital, where she was declared brought dead.

Her fellow passengers stated that the lady had become ill due to the excessive heat. The police have started an unnatural death case at Airport police station and are trying to ascertain her identity.

The other two deaths were reported from Bankura and Uluberia in Howrah district. Tarapada Majhi (40) fell ill while being engaged in 100 days' work at Bhedua under Taldangra police station area in Bankura. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Truck driver Kanaideo Singh reportedly died while loading his vehicle in the terrible heat.

State School Education secretary Manish Jain on Tuesday wrote to the ICSE and CBSE Boards, urging them to keep their affiliated schools in the city closed.

State Education minister Partha Chatterjee had announced on Monday that all government schools in the state will remain closed from June 20 to 30, in wake of the terrible heat. Chatterjee had also appealed to the private schools to keep their institutions closed, owing to the weather.

A majority of the leading private schools declared holiday from June 20 to 22. Don Bosco, the junior section of Birla Boys', the junior section of GD Birla, Future Foundation and Patha Bhavan schools were declared closed till June 22.

South Point School declared the school closed from Nursery I to Class V from June 20 to 22. La Martiniere for Boys has also declared three day's holiday from June 20.