After a few relatively cool days, the mercury soared on Wednesday to 42.2 degrees C leading to heat-related incidents. Ahmedabad was the seventh hottest in Gujarat while Amreli was at the top spot at 44 degrees C.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Thursday’s maximum temperature could be around 41 degrees C. However, an orange alert has been issued in Porbandar, Bhavnagar and Junagadh.
Wednesday’s maximum temperature of 42.2 degrees C was 2.6 degrees above normal, one of the highest for an April day in the past decade. At 26 degrees C, the minimum temperature too was above normal by 1.7 degrees.
City roads were sparsely populated as residents of Ahmedabad avoided going out in the afternoon hours. Humidity was recorded at 21% at 5.30 pm. Citizens took to consuming cooling drinks like lemonade and buttermilk. The temperatures did not go down even after sunset and continued to be high even during night hours.
Health emergencies
EMRI 108 emergency service officials said that since April 15, the number of heat-related emergencies in Ahmedabad have remained above 220, or around nine an hour.
While no cases of heat stroke were reported in Ahmedabad, the city recorded high numbers of people with abdominal pain, fainting and vomiting or diarrhoea. Headache and muscle pain can also be caused by heat shock. Experts advised people to stay well hydrated and keep drinking water even if they don’t feel thirsty. Also, people should take regular breaks in their work.
In Rajkot there were 72 cases of health emergencies due to the heat wave on Wednesday between 11 am and 5 pm.
IMD forecasts indicate that from Friday onwards, Ahmedabad and other parts of Gujarat may experience a drop of 2 to 3 degrees celsius in maximum temperature. Humidity has remained high in the coastal areas of the state.
Preventive action
Follow these suggestions to cope with the heat wave:
- Don’t go out of the house between 12 noon and 4 pm unless unavoidable.
- Stay well hydrated by consuming water and other cooling fluids. If you feel you are dehydrated, take electrolytes.
- Avoid eating outside food and eat fresh, home-cooked food.
- If you are outdoors, try to remain in the shade. Avoid exposure to direct heat.
- Wear light-coloured, loose cotton clothes to keep cool.
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