Kerala under grip of oppressive heat

Kerala appears to be heading for a severe summer as soaring temperatures and acute water shortage in many parts have already made life difficult for people, who also face the looming threat of power cuts.

Kerala appears to be heading for a severe summer as soaring temperatures and acute water shortage in many parts have already made life difficult for people, who also face the looming threat of power cuts.

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The rising temperatures have so far caused sunburns to over 30 persons, including school children, with the worst-hit
being Palakkad district, where the mercury touched 42 degrees Celsius this month.

The other affected districts are Kozhikode, Pathnamthitta, Malappuram, Idukki, Kollam and Kottayam.

Over 500 ducks and ducklings in Palakaad have so far perished to the oppressive heat while in Kalady in Ernakulam
District, four poultry farms have reported death of at least 200 chickens.

Weathermen cite absence of cooling winds and want of summer showers as the main causes of the rising temperatures.

However, there could be some respite for the state as rains are expected by this week-end.

'There is some cloud formation between the Equator and Sri Lanka around 5 degree latitude in Indian Ocean south of India.

This could result in one or two days of rain this weekend which could bring down the temperatures,' Dr P V Joseph, Prof
Emeritus of Cochin University of Science and Technology and former Director of India Meterological Department told PTI.

Normally during January-February there would be no rains, but March does get a spell of rains, he said.