“Karnataka has not seen such extreme temperatures and heatwaves recently. We wanted to provide wider coverage of the safety measures and hence decided to release them in a reader-friendly format,” said a KSNDMC official.
The Bengaluru Meteorological Center, India’s Department of Meteorology, has issued a five-day heat wave warning, with an orange alert lasting until April, for parts of Karnataka.
“In places like Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Kalaburgi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Tumkur, Mandya, Gadag, Davangere and Chitradurga, the temperature is likely to touch 40 degrees Celsius tomorrow,” said CP Patil, director of the center.
On April 25, the maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius was recorded in these places. An orange alert would mean an increased likelihood of developing symptoms of heat illness in people exposed to the sun for long periods of time and in people performing weighty physical work.
According to Patil, coastal Karnataka will also experience very balmy and soggy weather conditions, which will make people there very uncomfortable. “It is best that children and elderly people also avoid exposure to heat in coastal areas,” Patil added. In places where a heat wave is expected, it is recommended to avoid direct exposure to sunlight between 12:00 and 15:00. “When going out, it is best to wear safety glasses, an umbrella or a hat. You should also avoid carbonated drinks because they cause dehydration. It is best to drink as much water as possible, even if you do not feel thirsty,” said M. Rajavel, head of LACD, the Bengaluru Meteorological Center.
It is also recommended not to leave children or pets in parked vehicles. Patil said the maximum and minimum temperatures in Bengaluru are likely to be around 37 degrees Celsius and 23 degrees Celsius, respectively, in the next 48 hours.
Hassan recorded the highest jump over the normal minimum temperature. It recorded a temperature of 22.6 degrees Celsius, about 2.8 degrees higher than usual.
According to the IMD, delicate rain is very likely at isolated places in Bidar, Kalaburgi, Yadgir, Vijayapura, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysuru, Mandya and Chitradurga districts on April 29.
On April 30, delicate rainfall is again expected in Bidar, Kalaburgi, Yadgir, Vijayapura, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Chikkamagaluru, Tumkur, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban and Kodagu districts.
Incidentally, KSNDMC has also released a series of animated guides on lightning safety.
“In consultation with the IMD, we are also updating the temperature in our X holder every 15 minutes,” the KSNDMC official added.