With Kerala experiencing a heat wave, the state continues to be on alert, as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), on Sunday, announced that 13 out of 14 districts in the state will see a rise in mercurial levels by 2 to 3 degrees more than the normal temperature on Monday and Tuesday.
According to a statement put out by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) on Sunday, the IMD said that the districts that are expected to experience the temperature rise on Monday and Tuesday are: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod.
Following the heatwave alert, the Malappuram District Collector on Sunday evening declared a holiday for all schools in the district, including Kendriya Vidyalaya, on Monday, April 1.
Kozhikode district collector Sambasiva Rao had also issued a strict directive asking people not to engage in outdoor work between 11 am and 3 pm until mid-April.
In the light of the increasing mercury levels in the state, the KSDMA has listed the following precautions that people of the state can take in order to avoid sunstroke:
The public has been advised to avoid getting exposed to direct sunlight between 11 am and 3 pm.
Always carry a bottle of water in order to prevent dehydration.
Drink only purified water and as much as possible, avoid drinking tea and coffee during the day.
Wear light colour clothes as it will reflect the sunlight and won’t absorb the heat.
The safety of the food delivery agents who deliver food on two-wheelers between 11 am and 3 pm should be ensured by their respective organisations.
Journalists, police officials and election campaign workers, who will be on duty during the given timings, should make sure that they carry an umbrella with them.
The KSDMA states that at a time when people are suffering from sunstroke and sunburn, the citizens must take precautions given by the Authority with utmost seriousness.