Heatwave: ‘Avoid outdoor activities from noon to 3 pm’

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave warning for north interior Karnataka from March 15 to 19, predicting a 2 to 4°C rise in temperatures. In response, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has urged residents to take precautionary measures and avoid outdoor activities, especially between 12 noon and 3 pm. Speaking in Raichur, the minister said that the government is considering revising work timings for government offices to ensure the safety of employees.

He advised officials to avoid field visits in the afternoon and instead schedule their work in the morning or evening. "The government employees should not step out between 12 noon and 3 pm. Necessary adjustments will be made to ensure their well-being," he said. With temperatures soaring, Rao said, "Students should stay hydrated and consume nutritious food to prevent dehydration. All government hospitals are equipped to handle heatrelated illnesses," he said. According to the IMD, the maximum temperatures in the north interior Karnataka are expected to increase by 2 to 4°C from March 15 to 17, with a heatwave warning issued for isolated areas on March 18 and 19. Meanwhile, the south interior Karnataka will experience a gradual temperature rise of 2 to 3°C over the next few days. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre has identified several districts experiencing extreme temperatures. Kalaburagi, Bidar, Bagalkot, Raichur, Yadgir, and Vijayapura recorded maximum temperatures of 40°C and above on Friday.

Some areas in Bagalkot and Belagavi also experienced extreme heat. Tumakuru, Ballari, Gadag, Koppal, Uttara Kannada, Vijayanagara, Chikkaballapur, and Mysuru reported unusually high temperatures. As per the centre's weather bulletin, 17 locations in Kalaburagi, 13 each locations in Bidar and Raichur, 10 in Vijayapura, eight in Yadgir, six each in Bagalkot and Belagavi, three in Tumakuru, two each areas in Ballari, Gadag, Koppal, Uttara Kannada, Vijayanagara and one each locations in Chikkaballapur and Mysuru districts recorded maximum temperatures of 40°C and above.