Even as parts of south-western Bengal simmered in the vicinity of 45-46 degrees centigrade, Kolkata on Tuesday recorded its all-time highest temperature at 43 degrees which is six degrees above normal, said the weather office, adding the temperature is to go up in the coming 3-4 days

Kolkata had recorded highest temperature of 41.7 degrees 44 years ago in 1980, said sources at Alipore weather office, adding Orange alert had been issued for the City of Joy which had presently turned into a ‘city on the boil’.

Red alert has been sounded in the Gangetic West Bengal including the areas adjacent to Chotanagpur plateau like Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapore and Birbhum, sources said advising caution for the election campaigners and asking them to abstain from campaigning between 12 and 3 pm.

“While heat wave like conditions will prevail in Kolkata, severe heat wave like conditions will prevail in western districts of the Gangetic Bengal,” weather office sources said predicting heat-wave like condition in districts of North Bengal too save Darjeeling.

The Bengal Government had preponed the summer vacations in Government and Government aided schools from April considering rising heat. “Considering the prevailing heat wave situation, the competent authority has decided to prepone the summer vacation in the schools under your administrative jurisdiction with effect from April 22 except for schools in hill areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, wherein the existing academic schedule may continue until further order,” the notice issued by School Education earlier said.