Jharkhand has one of the worst summers with several districts of North Western and central parts of State experiencing heat wave conditions. A severe heat wave alarm is set off by the weather office when the maximum temperature exceeds the normal mark by six degrees and above.
The dry and hot winds from the west and northwest parts of the country have increased the temperature of Jharkhand. The maximum temperature has gone up by two to four degrees Celsius during the next two-three days.
Meteorologist SC Mandal said, “Heat wave conditions occurred in several districts on Friday. Daltonganj recorded the highest temperature with mercury reading 45.8 degree Celsius. Apart from Daltonganj, Ranchi recorded a maximum temperature of 44.2 degree Celsius, Jamshedpur with 44.6 degree Celsius. Apart from these several districts in the State recorded temperatures more than 40 degree Celsius.” Mandal said, “The heat wave conditions will exist for next 48 hours followed by respite as several districts will have cloudy skies.”
Moreover, the Jharkhand government a few days back has already issued through its public relation department a heat wave advisory for all the 24 districts.
As per the advisory the government has also asked for a change in school timing. The state education department is planning to reschedule school timing as heat wave conditions persist.
The advisory also asks states for large scale setting up of drinking water kiosks at public places, setting up special shelters for MGNREGA and construction workers and rescheduling their working hours and advises for undertaking local thresholds assessment in partnership with expert institutions.
Adding woes to people's problems is a poor power scenario. Power scenario in several districts seemed to be heading for a toss as people continued to reel under frequent power cuts caused by unscheduled load-shedding.
Sources said that power situation in state is not going to improve as State-run discom Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) had stated that ongoing power shortages in Ranchi and across Jharkhand will not improve unless thermal power plants across the country ramp up their production.
“The power production in the thermal power plants which supply power to Jharkhand have been reduced to 50% of their capacities due to the shortages of coal. This situation is not only prevailing in Jharkhand but in other states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar andMaharashtra,” said an official at JBVNL.
Due to frequent power cuts and scorching it is students who are affected the most. As the matriculation examination is going on, students who are appearing at board examinations have to suffer the most.
