Residents stay indoors amidst intense heatwave in Erode, Salem and Namakkal
Erode recorded maximum temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius, which is 5.5 degrees Celsius above normal; very few motorists were seen on city roads during peak hours
The intense heatwave across Erode, Salem and Namakkal districts, has forced most residents to stay indoors during the day.
With Erode recording maximum temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius, which is 5.5 degrees Celsius above normal, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heatwave conditions. Meanwhile, Salem and Namakkal districts recorded temperatures of 41.6 and 40 degrees Celsius respectively, which is above normal by 3.7 and 1.6 degree Celsius respectively. The humidity stood at 69%.
With the exception of college buses, a few private vehicles and vehicles transporting goods, very few motorists were seen on the city roads during the peak hours from 11.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Even TNSTC and private buses saw very little patronage, with people preferring to stay away from the blazing sun.
“The heatwaves are affecting the livelihood of workers as well, since it has become challenging to work under the scorching sun,” said a construction worker at Solar.
On the other hand, roadside shops selling sugarcane juice, watermelons, muskmelon, kambam koozh (pearl millet porridge), buttermilk, mosambi and tender coconut saw brisk business right from daybreak from people seeking respite from the soaring heat. “We haven’t seen such harsh temperatures in the past years, not even during Kathiri Veyil,” said M. Boopalan (70), of Kollampalayam.
While Erode Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara advised people not to venture out of their homes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Salem Collector R. Brindha Devi and Namakkal Collector S. Uma in separate press releases have asked people not to venture out of their houses from noon to 3 p.m. They have asked people to consume adequate water, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), buttermilk, lassi and lemon juice at home to stay hydrated. “If they experience tiredness or unwell due to heat, they should immediately visit the nearest government hospital,” the release said.
With temperatures likely to rise further and extreme weather conditions to prevail, people have been asked to protect themselves from the scorching sun and waves.
The youth wing of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) has urged the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to prevent schools from conducting special classes during the summer in Erode, in view of the scorching heat.
In a press release, TMC youth wing president M. Yuvaraja, said the temperature had gone up signi¤cantly in Erode district, and the heat had begun to aect people. The temperature recorded in the district over the past 20 days was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and touched an all-time high of 109.5 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
“Only during Kathiri Veyil from May 4 to 29, does the temperature usually go up to this extent. But the temperature is already very high now, in April,” the statement said. People are facing a lot of di¦culties because of the high temperature and heatwave conditions, and doctors have advised people to not to venture out from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the statement pointed out.
It said however, that schools have continued to conduct special classes even after the examinations concluded, and students are facing hardships due to the intense heat. “The prevailing temperature may cause skin complications. Hence, the government should declare a holiday for schools,” the statement said. The government should also take eorts to plant more trees and saplings, it said.