Heatwave to hit Kozhikode, CM requests residents to follow safety protocol

Heatwave-like conditions are likely to hit Kozhikode on March 6 and 7 with temperatures rising in parts of the southern peninsula including Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the next few days.

The maximum temperature in Kozhikode district is likely to rise 3.7 degrees Celsius above normal. According to IMD’s latest updates, Palakkad recorded the highest maximum temperature of 37.7 degree Celsius, with Punalur in Kollam coming second at 37.5 degree Celsius.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on his Facebook page appealed to all residents to adhere to the safety guidelines issued by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority.

“From Thrissur to Kannur, residents should take especially take note of this situation and follow safety guidelines,” the CM’s post read.

With the temperatures set to rise, the KSDMA (Kerala State Disaster Management Authority) had listed a set of safety guidelines for people to follow during summer.

“Residents should try and not expose themselves to direct sunlight between 11 am and 3 pm in order to avoid sunstroke,” KSDMA said. The disaster management authority also asked the public to carry a bottle of water with them wherever they go and keep drinking it in order to avoid dehydration. Other instructions, such as wearing light colour clothes to reflect light and thereby avoiding heat, were also instructed by the authority.

The KSDMA also requested parents to pay extra attention to their children as they will be writing their examinations during the summer months.

The labour department had also given mandatory break time between 12 pm and 3 pm for labourers in order to avoid exposure to sunlight. All shifts have been changed to avoid work between 12 and 3 pm.

Earlier, it was predicted that the departure from normal temperature was 8 degree celsius. However, IMD revised these figures on Tuesday. 

Low rainfall 

The state has also received low amounts of rainfall in the months of January and February. According to reports, while Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod received no rain at all, Alappuzha, Kollam, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram received low amounts of rainfall.