Extreme heat has started taking its toll on Palakkad district. The highest temperature in the State in the last two years was recorded at Mundur on Wednesday — 40 degrees Celsius. The average daytime temperature is above 38 degrees Celsius across other parts of the district.
Sunburns
According to district hospital sources, sunburn cases are getting reported from the district daily.
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Most of the cases are from Chittur, Kozhinjampara, and Eruthempathy.
According to meteorologists, the temperature normally crosses 40 degrees Celsius in March. The highest temperature in recent years was reported in 2016 and it was 41.9 degrees Celsius. With dams and reservoirs drying up, the district is witnessing an acute drinking water scarcity.
Ponds, wells, and rivers have dried up. Roads look almost empty, as people prefer to remain indoors.
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Drinking water
Supply of drinking water is a brisk business in all major areas. Some eateries are planning temporary closure owing to scarcity of water.
Agriculture is badly affected and paddy cultivators are the worst hit.
Wild animals have started straying into residential areas in areas such as Mannarkkad and Walayar following the drying up of water sources inside the forest.
In northern districts
The India Meteorological Department has warned that the atmospheric temperature in northern districts of Kerala will rise up to 10 degrees from the average temperature between March 1 and 3.
Warning
The public have been advised not to expose themselves to sunlight between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. They have been advised to keep a bottle of water at hand to avoid dehydration and to wear loose light coloured cotton clothes as far as possible.