The metropolis and large parts of South Bengal are reeling under heat wave conditions with day temperature soaring to 45.1 degrees Celsius in Bankura, the highest in the country’s plains on Monday, with the Met Department forecasting no respite in the next few days.
Bankura district, where people braved the sweltering heat to cast their votes since early morning in the second part of polling for the first phase of the State Assembly elections, recorded the highest temperature of 45.1 degrees Celsius during the day, which was eight degrees above average, topping the day’s temperature chart recorded over the plains in the country, according to the MeT department.
In Kolkata, the day temperature stood at 40.5 degrees, five degrees above normal, while the lowest temperature was 28.3 degrees, three notches higher than average.
Asansol and Burdwan recorded 43 deg C and 42.5 deg C respectively, according to MeT department sources.
The weatherman forecast heat wave conditions will prevail over South Bengal districts, with severe heat wave conditions over Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia and Burdwan districts of the State.
Heat wave conditions were likely to continue for the next few days in Kolkata and neighbouring areas with the day temperatures likely to hover around 42 degrees, the Met department forecast said.
The West Bengal government has announced holiday owing to excessive heat in all the State-run and State-aided schools.
It has also requested private schools to consider keeping the institutions closed due to the prevailing heat wave conditions. - PTI
