With the rising temperature in North, Western and Central parts of India, the lives of many have come to a standstill as people cannot go out and are forced to stay indoors to save themselves from one of the deadliest heat waves the country has experienced in the last few years.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the heat wave conditions were observed in many parts of East Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Heat wave conditions were also observed in many parts over Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region and in isolated pockets over West Madhya Pradesh. The IMD has also predicted severe heat wave conditions in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Vidarbha; and heat wave conditions in North Haryana, South Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the next three days.

Worst hit areas

With Rajasthan’s Churu recording the highest maximum temperature of 48.0 degree Celsius, Nagpur and Jhansi recorded the second maximum temperature of 46.6 degree Celsius in last 24 hours.

With three consecutive deaths in the last three days, Madhya Pradesh's weather condition became the worst in the last 24 hours. The state has been facing severe heat waves and baking at 45-plus temperatures at most of the places. Several cities of MP recorded temperatures over 45 degree Celsius and it touched even 47 degree Celsius at Damoh and Khargone. Recently, a 55-year-old head constable in Government Railway Police died due to heat stroke.

In another incident on Tuesday, a 65-year-old man was found dead in his field in Sheopur. ASI Ram Varan Singh Tomar said that the deceased was found in his field with no injury marks on the body. He has been identified as Prahlad Khatik (65) from Ladpura village. It seems he fainted due to excessive heat and died on the spot. Meanwhile, in a similar incident from the same district, a 19-year-old Giriraj Bairwa was found dead in Panwad village of Sheopur. Physicians confirmed dehydration as the cause of death.

According to the Regional Meteorological Department, Nagpur, Madhya Pradesh's Guna, Sagar, Damoh, Chhatarpur, and Sheopur witnessed heat waves and these areas baked at over 45 degree Celsius. Guna, Sagar, Damoh, Nagaon, and Khajuraho touched 47 degree Celsius temperature in the last 24 hours. The met department has issued severe heat wave warning for cities like Bhopal, Sehore, Vidisha, Hoshangabad, Khandwa, Khargone, Shajapur, Ujjain and Tikamgarh. Department highlighted that Panna, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Rajgarh, and Raisen may witness extreme heat waves in the next 24 hours. Stating that severe heatwave conditions might persist for two days, the department has advised citizens to avoid exposure to heat and dehydration.

In Uttar Pradesh, seven people have died in different parts of the state due to sweltering heat. The Bundelkhand area is reeling under acute water crisis and the government has ordered to make arrangements for drinking water. The water level of Gomti river in Lucknow has dipped by several feet and the water supply in Lucknow has been affected. While in Shankargarh area of Allahabad people have started migrating to other places due to water scarcity.

Dry winds and high mercury have intensified the plight of people in the state. According to IMD, Banda on Thursday was the hottest place at 47.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Jhansi at 47 degree Celsius, both five degrees above normal.

Agra reeled at 45.5 degrees Celsius while Allahabad recorded a high of 44.7 degrees Celsius.

The meteorological department has issued a warning of dust storm or thunderstorm at isolated places over western Uttar Pradesh.

The east too suffers

The prevailing weather condition is unlikely to change much in coming days in Bihar and as a result, people will have to face acute weather conditions.

According to IMD officials, there is no sign of any rain in Bihar in the coming days. Though neighbouring states like West Bengal and Odisha will receive rainfall, it’s not going to give respite to the people of Bihar, except a minimal decrease in temperatures.

Bihar is among the states which are facing harsh weather conditions. Maximum temperature in Bihar remained at 40 degree Celsius forcing people to remain indoors. Dry weather has also caused depletion in water level and as a result of this many parts of Bihar are facing water scarcity.

In Odisha, heatwave condition intensified with the mercury soaring over 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the western Odisha. According to the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre weather bulletin, 11 places of Odisha had sizzled over 40 degree Celsius mark.

Haryana prepares in advance

The heat wave swept most parts of Haryana and Narnaul district recorded the highest temperature at 44.5 degree Celsius.

Anticipating a flood of people coming to the state’s largest health institute, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak, authorities here have set-up special emergency room to deal with such patients.

Dr VK Katyal, Head of Department of Medicines at PGIMS Rohtak, told Firstpost that patients with extreme fever, body aches, weakness and giddiness are coming to them in OPDs. The elderly people and newborns are more prone to effects of heat wave compared to adults. "To tide over the situation, we have set-up a resuscitation room equipped with facilities like air-conditioner and other fluids,” Dr Katyal added.

He said that the public is advised to keep themselves hydrated with fluids like water and juice while avoiding sun exposure as much as possible. Ram Kumar, a 62-year-old man who was rushed to PGIMS Rohtak on Thursday, said that he had passed out while working in the field in the morning and was rushed to the medical hospital for treatment. "Unbearable heat made me lose my sense all of a sudden but thanks to other farmers who spotted me and took me to the hospital,” he added.

Dr Dinesh Khosla, a paediatrician in Rohtak, said that the coming weeks are going to take a toll on the health of infants who face sun exposure due to some reasons while fever and diarrhoea are common ailments with which they come to nursing homes.

The hills are melting

As people across North India are suffering in the scorching heat, the hill state of Uttarakhand doesn’t remain untouched. In the last week, the temperature in the state has gone above normal not only in the plains but also in the hilly areas. Uttarakhand's capital, Dehradun, recorded its hottest day on May 31 with 40.4 degree Celsius. Similarly, Pantnagar’s maximum temperature was 40.07 degree Celsius on May 29.

Vikram Singh, director of the Indian Meteorological Center located in Dehradun, said that the state recorded the highest temperature during the last two days of the month of May. He pointed out that on June 5, a maximum of 39.3 and minimum 24.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Dehradun. It means the maximum is four and the minimum is two degrees above the normal temperature. Vikram said that there may be light rain in some places in the state in the next two days, but people will not get relief from the heat immediately.

Spike in sales of watermelons

Om Prakash, a roadside fruit seller at Rohtak and Sonipat road, was happy with heat wave sweeping the district with a spike in sales of watermelons by 100%. He said that the sale of watermelons has increased by double in the last two days due to heat waves. He said that he used to earn Rs 2,500 every day but it has doubled to Rs 5,000 in the last two days.