Kerala: Mercury soars, IMD issues temperature alert for 2 more days

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning that the maximum temperature is likely to be above normal by 2-3 degrees Celsius in 11 districts for the next two days. These districts include Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta , Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad , Malappuram, Kannur and Kozhikode.

The maximum temperature was the highest in Palakkad (40.2 degrees Celsius) and Punalur (38) on Sunday. The temperature was relatively high across the state on the day, with three suspected sunstroke cases reported.

Karunakaran (44) of Ayira near Parassala was found dead in a field on Sunday morning. Pozhiyoor sub-inspector V Jayakumar said the cause of death could only be ascertained after getting the autopsy report. “Doctors have found sunburns on his body, which suggests the possibility of sunstroke. As of now, it is not possible to conclude that sunstroke caused his death. The body has been handed over to relatives for final rites after autopsy,” he said.

Shahjahan (60) of Maramon collapsed and died on the roadside but Pathanamthitta special branch officers said it was not a sunstroke case from preliminary assessment. “Shahjahan, a hotel employee, had collapsed and died on the road side. He was an alcoholic and he was in an inebriated condition at the time of death. The post-mortem examination will be held on Monday,” an officer said.

Steady increase reported in no. of sunburn cases

KV Narayanan (68) of Vellora near Payyannur in Kannur was also found dead in a vacant plot near his house with sunburns on his body. Police, however, said Narayanan had gone missing on Saturday. The surgeon who conducted the autopsy at Pariyaram Medical College has noted that Narayanan was suffering from tuberculosis and his heart was weak. He might have collapsed while walking in the sun, they said. The autopsy report is awaited.

There is also a steady rise in the number of sunburn cases reported. An RSP leader, Nazar Khan, fell unconscious while campaigning in Punalur, Kollam. He had to be rushed to a hospital and his condition is reportedly stable now. A threeyear-old girl, Marva, suffered sunburns at Kumbla in Kasaragod while playing in her courtyard. The health department has issued an advisory on steps to tackle the heat.

IMD Thiruvananthapuram director K Santhosh said there were chances of extension of the alert for extreme temperature.

“Wind pattern and pressure are factors determining the temperature. Rain could have reduced the temperature. However, only isolated rainfall is expected in the coming days,” he said. The state disaster management authority has also issued an alert against people going out in the sun between 11am and 3pm.

Two men sustain sunburns in Alappuzha: Two men sustained sunburns in separate incidents in Alappuzha on Sunday.

Mohammed Siddique (57) of Ambalappuzha and Perissery Libin Abraham, a cameraman with a TV channel from Chengannur, have sought treatment and are out of danger now.

KWA seeks police protection for reservoirs:

Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has sought police protection for seven check dams fearing theft of water and unauthorized fishing in Palakkad.

The structures are seven comprehensive drinking water sources of more than two lakh people in Chittur, Palakkad and Alathur taluks.

In a letter to district collector, KWA executive engineer R Jayachandran requested for regular police posts at Kunnamkattupathy regulatorcum-reservoir, Aryampallam, Thottupalam, Anajam Mayil, Kannadi, Thirunellai and Njavalinkadavu check dams in view of precarious water situation. A section of farmers was pumping stored water to irrigate coconuts plantations, it said. “There were incidents of anti-social elements releasing water from reservoirs for facilitating fishing activities using chemicals,” read the letter.