Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday warned of heatwaves in Odisha during April 13-14. Yellow warning has been issued for Balangir, Bargarh, and Sambalpur districts on these two days.
According to a special bulletin, hot and humid conditions may also prevail at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jajpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Gajapati, and Ganjam from April 11-16. It further stated that the day temperature may witness a gradual rise by 4-6°C after 24 hours.
The IMD has advised people in these districts to take precautionary measures while going outside during peak hours of the day (11 am to 3 pm), avoid prolonged heat exposure and cover your head using a wet cloth, hat or umbrella. “Drink sufficient water even if not feeling thirsty to avoid dehydration. Use ORS, homemade drinks like lassi, torani (rice water), sugarcane juice, lemon water, buttermilk to re-hydrate the body. Keep live-stocks in cool and shade places and arrange drinking water for them,” it further stated.
Labourers have been cautioned against undertaking strenuous work during the peak hours. “Recognise the signs of heat stroke, heat rash or heat cramps such as weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, sweating and seizures. If you feel faint or ill, see a doctor/ hospital immediately.”
Farmers have been advised to continue irrigation activities in sugarcane, summer maize, pulses and other crops and vegetables.
On April 10, thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) may continue in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts, it added.
Amid hot and humid weather conditions forecast, the administrations in Khurda and Boudh districts have rescheduled working hours for government offices from Friday to safeguard employees and the public from extreme afternoon temperature.
Khurda Collector Amrit Ruturaj issued an order announcing that all State government offices, along with Revenue and Executive Magistrate courts in the district, will operate from 7am to 1 pm without a lunch break. This change will continue until June 15. However, the revised timings do not apply to government offices in the State Capital of Bhubaneswar.
Similarly, Boudh Collector Bibhuti Bhushan Nayak has directed all government offices in the district to function from 7 am to 1 pm with no lunch break, starting April 10 and continuing until further orders. Officials have encouraged citizens to complete their official work during the morning hours to avoid exposure to peak heat. Kalahandi district has also implemented similar early morning office schedules till mid-June.