With rising mercury levels, the Health Department and Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) have sounded a high alert in the state. The ambient temperature has hit 37 degree Celsius in some parts of the state even before the peak of summer resulting in health authorities to issue advisories for the general public, primarily recommending them to avoid direct sunlight from 11am to 3pm.
While the temperature in Kottayam was 37 degree Celsius, it was 36.4 degree Celsius in Alappuzha and 40 degree Celsius at Mundur in Palakkad. According to KSDMA, the temperature in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts may rise by another two to three degrees in the coming days, resulting in heatwave conditions.
The India Meteorological Department officially confirmed a heatwave in Kerala for the first time in 2016. The next hottest summer, according to KSDMA officials, was in 2019. As per predictions, the temperature is likely to increase by two to three degrees in some places in the state on Tuesday. In cities like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, the average maximum temperature reported so far is 33 to 34-degree Celsius and is not alarming.
Meanwhile, the LDF government on February 17 decided to reschedule the working hours for labourers in the state until April 30. "As per the order, the working hours of the labourers have been rescheduled for the period starting from February 17 to April 30. The eight hours of duty will be from 7 AM to 7 PM with a mandatory break of three hours from 12 noon to 3 PM," a state government statement said. Additional Labour Commissioner Sreelal K said, “Construction worksites are under our scanner and special squads have been deployed to conduct surprise checks to book violators.”
According to Skymet Weather, the weather in Thirvananthapuram and is likely to hit 32 degree Celsius, 37 degree Celsius in Kottayam, 38 degree Celsius in Palakkad and 34 degree Celsius in Kochi today.
