Heatwaves cripple Tarai life

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 28: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has forecast the possibility of excessive heat in the Tarai areas for the next three days. 

The maximum temperature in various districts of the Tarai has been measured above 40 degrees Celsius for the past few days, so, the department has announced a heat wave and hot wind advisory for the Tarai districts.

On Monday, the maximum temperature in Nepalgunj was recorded at 41.0 degrees Celsius, Kathmandu recorded at 30.6 degrees Celsius, Bhairahawa at 39.0 degrees Celsius and Dhangadhi at 40.8 degrees Celsius.

At the same time, a cyclone named ‘Remal’ has developed a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, which has mild effects in Karnali, Bagmati, Madhes, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces, said Pratibha Manandhar, a senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecast Division under the DHM. 

She said that this is the first cyclone of the pre-monsoon season to emerge in the Bay of Bengal. The cyclone is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall, affecting some districts of India and Bangladesh, with mild impacts on Nepal, such as winds and cloud cover.

According to Manandhar, “The direct impact of Cyclone Remal will not reach Nepal. However, some clouds from the cyclone’s outer bands may reach Nepal, potentially causing cloud cover and light rain.” Starting on Monday, there will be cloud cover, but significant rainfall is not expected. 

She added, “The cyclone’s mild impact will be seen in Nepal on Monday and Tuesday, with light to moderate rainfall expected. The impact will start diminishing from Tuesday onwards.”

The DHM also advises staying in cool places inside the house during hot summer days and not going outside too much (do not expose yourself too much to the sun, wear light clothes, wear cotton clothes, cover your head when going out, wear a hat, and drink plenty of water) to avoid heat waves and hot winds. It also asks people to stay in regular contact with health workers.

Meanwhile, Siraj Khan, our correspondent from Nepalgunj, reported that following an intense heatwave and rising temperatures, all schools within Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City have given a five-day holiday. 

The decision was made after children began falling ill due to the extreme heat and hot winds. The Education, Youth and Sports Division of Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City announced that the schools would be closed from Tuesday, May 28, to Saturday, June 1.

According to Gorkha Bahadur Thapa, the head of the Education, Youth, and Sports Division, the municipal-level Disaster Management Committee decided to close all schools in Nepalgunj because the extreme heat has adversely affected the children. 

The decision aims to protect the health and well-being of the students. He said that due to the severe heat, children have been experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, and fever. Therefore, a notice has been issued to close all schools for five days to mitigate health risks to the children.

Similarly, our Sarlahi correspondent reported that the intense midday sun and scorching heat have made it challenging for people to step outside in the area. The locals, forced to endure the extreme heat, are becoming increasingly lethargic. 

Binod Das, a hotel owner from Haripur Municipality-2, Haripur Bazaar, complained about the unbearable heat. He said that even at night, the oppressive heat makes it difficult to sleep.

Although mornings are relatively bearable, from around 9 to 10 AM, the sun becomes extremely harsh, making it impossible to go outside until evening, according to Dinesh Rai Yadav, a youth from Ratnapur, Chandranagar Rural Municipality-1. During the afternoon, markets and roads in the Tarai region appear deserted. 

Due to the extreme heat, people avoid going out unless necessary. The heatwave has affected students, labourers, farmers and pedestrians. Many people are experiencing headaches, dizziness and fatigue due to excessive sweating and extreme temperatures.

For several days, the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Malangwa Distribution Centre had been disrupting power to replace wires on the Nawalpur-Malangwa transmission line. 

However, due to the extreme heat, they have paused the maintenance work and resumed regular power supply since Monday, acknowledging the public’s difficulties.