Monsoon likely to hit Kerala next week; heatwave death toll climbs to 2,005

Mangalore Today News Network

Thiruvananthapuram, May 30, 2015: People across the country, who are reeling under intense heatwave, can breathe a sigh of relief as the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala next week.

Confirming the development, Sudevan, MET Dept Director (Kerala), on Saturday said that Monsoon is likely to hit Kerala coast before 3rd June.

Strong winds from north westerly direction having a speed of 45-55 kmph were likely to hit the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep during the next 24 hours commencing from 2 pm on Friday, another India Meteorological Department (IMD) official had said earlier.

The official also warned fishermen not to venture into the sea in view of the strong winds.

According to weather department forecast rain or thundershowers would occur at many places over Kerala, Lakshadweep and at a few places over coastal and south interior Karnataka today. Isolated rain or thundershowers may also occur over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and north interior Karnataka.

Scanty rainfall was recorded at most places over Lakshadweep, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka on Friday.

Meanwhile, the nationwide death toll has risen to 2,005 as the intense heatwave continued to sweep many parts of the country, with Palamau in Jharkhand recording the highest temperature of 47 degrees Celsius.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which bore the brunt of the scorching sun, together accounted for 1,979 deaths. The two states saw the death of 205 people since yesterday -- 156 in Andhra Pradesh and 49 in Telangana.

Odisha

The heatwave sweeping across Odisha has claimed 17 more lives with Bhawanipatna in western region recording the highest temperature at 45.5 degree Celsius.

The state’s Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office received reports of 108 deaths reportedly due to sun stroke.

UP

Torrid heat continued to scorch Uttar Pradesh with the mercury crossing the 47 mark in Allahabad making it the hottest place in the state on Friday.

Rajasthan

Kota was the hottest place in Rajasthan on Friday with a maximum temperature of 45.4 degree Celsius as light to moderate rainfall occurred at isolated places in the state.

Heat wave conditions prevailed at isolated places in Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota and Udaipur divisions whereas light to moderate rainfall also occurred at isolated pockets in Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaipur division.

Haryana, Punjab

Haryana’s Hisar was the hottest in the region at 44 degrees Celsius as heat wave conditions intensified over most parts of Punjab and Haryana on Friday.

The temperature in most places ranged between 42 and 44 degrees, a rise by one or two notches from Thursday, a Met official said here.

In Punjab, Patiala, the Sikh holy city of Amritsar and industrial hub Ludhiana were the hottest at 42 degrees each. All were five degrees above average.

Maharashtra

Slight relief was experienced in the heat wave conditions in certain parts of Maharashtra’s Vidarbha and Marathwada regions though high temperatures continued to scorch most areas on Friday.

West Bengal

It was a hot and humid Friday in Kolkata and across West Bengal, forcing residents to opt for cool summer drinks and indoor activities.

In Kolkata, the maximum temperature hovered around 36 degrees Celsius. The humidity levels soared to 85 percent in the morning and dipped to 58 percent later in the day, the Met Office said.

 

Courtesy: Zeenews