The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted heatwave conditions in several regions of East and Peninsular India for Saturday, April 6. These regions include Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, North Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Puducherry's Yanam, and Telangana.
On Friday, maximum temperatures soared to 40 to 43 degrees Celsius over most parts of Vidarbha and Odisha, along with many parts of Rayalaseema, some areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, central Maharashtra, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, North Interior Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
In Odisha, intense heatwave conditions persisted across the state, with temperatures reaching 43.5 degrees Celsius in Bhubaneswar. Nine places, including Bhubaneswar, recorded maximum temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius or higher during the day.
Due to the heatwave alert issued by the IMD, the Telangana state government issued a health advisory, urging people to avoid going out in the sun, particularly between noon and 3 pm. The health department also advised against consuming alcohol, tea, coffee, carbonated soft drinks, or beverages with high sugar content, as they may lead to dehydration or stomach issues.
The IMD stated on Friday that maximum temperatures in East and Central India are unlikely to see significant changes over the next two days and may gradually decrease by 2 to 3 degrees thereafter.
Earlier this week, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya instructed states and Union territories to develop plans to mitigate the impact of heatwaves. He advised individuals to seek medical attention at the nearest community health center, Ayushman Mandir, or district hospital in case of heatstroke symptoms.
The IMD had previously forecasted above-normal maximum temperatures across the country for this year.
