Scorching Sunday: Heat warning for Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar

AHMEDABAD: It will be a hot Sunday for Amdavadis, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave warning for the city and Gandhinagar , besides among other parts of Gujarat. The maximum temperature in the city is likely to touch 45°C , the IMD has forecast.


The maximum temperature in Ahmedabad on Saturday was 43.6°C, 2.3 degrees higher than normal.

The minimum was 27.8°C, also 2.1 degrees higher than normal. The IMD had issued a heat warning for Saturday as well, but the maximum temperature did not cross 44°C.

The heatwave warning has also been issued for the districts of Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Surat, Bhavnagar, Veraval, Porbandar, Rajkot, Amreli, Surendranagar, Kutch and the Union Territory of Diu.

Jayanta Sarkar, regional director of the IMD, said that while the region is seeing high temperatures, it is being compounded by the weather system over the Bay of Bengal, which is causing a change in thee wind direction, from northwesterly to northerly.

“This resulted in hot and dry winds over the region, raising the temperature further. These circumstances will not prevail beyond Sunday. For Monday, we have issued heatwave warnings for Sabarkantha, Banaskantha and Surat,” he said.

Kandla at 45.2°C was the hottest place in Gujarat, followed by Surendranagar (45°C), Amreli (44.9°C), Rajkot (44.7°C), Vadodara (44.4°C) and Bhuj (43.8°C).

The EMRI 108 emergency services on April 26 recorded 773 heat-related emergencies in Gujarat, while 473 emergencies had been recorded till 5pm on Saturday. Experts have advised citizens to avoid heat exposure, wear light-coloured cotton clothes and cover their heads with cloth, caps or umbrellas. They also advised citizens to remain hydrated throughout the day to prevent heat stroke.

AMC steps up

As part of the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) issued a red alert for Sunday, as the maximum temperature is likely to touch 45°C. “Health centres in the city will stay open till 5pm on Sunday. All centres have adequate stocks of ORS. AMC-run hospitals will offer buttermilk to visitors in the afternoon hours. Public gardens will remain open till 11pm and will have water be available. AMTS depots will also have drinking water available,” an AMC official said, adding that the estate department has been asked to ensure that all construction work is halted from noon to 4pm. Officials added that BRTS station will also provide ORS.