National
Heat waves affect life in Tarai districts
Heat wave conditions, also called “Loo”, have intensified in southern parts of the country in the recent days affecting normal life, with temperatures soaring to around 40 degree CelsiusWhile the temperatures are rising throughout the country, the worst-hit areas are in the Mid-Western and Far-Western regions namely Dipayal, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Birendranagar and Dang, among the 19 meteorological stations operated by Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD).
On Tuesday, a meteorological station near Nepalgunj recorded 41.1 degree Celsius while the daily temperatures in western Tarai districts, including Bardiya, Banke and Kailali, in the past one week was between 39 and 43 degree Celsius.
“The rising temperatures especially in western Nepal and Tarai districts are expected to continue for the next three days as no rainfall system is expected to develop,” said Shanta Kandel, a meteorologist at the MFD.
“There are chances of brief thunder-showers in the evening and night time in some hilly districts in the Central and Eastern regions, which may contribute to lowering the temperatures in these districts compared to the western Nepal,” Kandel said.
Kathmandu on Saturday recorded 33 degree Celsius, the highest day temperature for this year so far. Many Tarai districts in eastern and western regions have been witnessing the intense heat wave, affecting the day-to-day activities. Hospitals in these Tarai districts have been seeing people affected by viral fever, jaundice diarrhoea and other seasonal diseases.
In Bardiya, the number of patients visiting hospitals has increased due to extreme heat conditions along with the Loo. Dr Ausar Ali of the Bardiya District Hospital said they are receiving 100 and 150 people at the Out Patient Department on a daily basis.
In India, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, over 700 people have died in less than a week due to extreme heat wave conditions and scorching temperatures.
Normally, the days are hot and humid while evenings and night time get cooler with brief thunder-showers activity during the pre-monsoon months. The four-month monsoon generally starts on June 10. The weathermen from across the South Asia region and experts from the World Meteorological Organisation have predicted “below average to moderate monsoon” this year.