More than a 100 people sought medical attention in connection with summer heat-related health conditions on Wednesday, even as the IMD warned that above-normal day temperatures should be expected till Friday in 13 districts.
Two cases of sunstroke were reported in Thiruvananthapuram, while 46 cases of sunburn were reported from 12 districts. In all, 54 people approached hospitals for treatment for heat rash, the Health Department said.
With the summer heat expected to persist, the Health Department has launched measures to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. An alert has been issued to district medical officers in this regard, Health Minister K.K. Shylaja said. The use of clean water, to a large extent, can prevent diseases from spreading, the Minister said. The rescheduled working hours regulating outdoor labour between 12 noon and 3 p.m. should be strictly followed, she said.
The Food Safety Commissionerate had launched inspections in roadside juice shops to make sure that clean water is used, she said.
Heat alert till Friday
Meanwhile, the IMD said on Wednesday that its summer heat alert would be valid till Friday. As many as 13 districts were likely to experience an increase of two to three degrees in daytime temperatures till Friday, IMD said.
The alert is valid for Kollam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasaragod.
Palakkad recorded a maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees celsius on Wednesday, while Kottayam recorded 38.5 degrees and Vellanikkara (Thrissur), 37.1 degrees.
Power consumption at an all-time high
Daily power consumption crossed the 85 million unit (MU) mark for the first time in the State on Tuesday. Consumption stood at 85.89 MU, of which power imports from outside the State accounted for 59 MU, according to the State Load Despatch Centre. Hydel dams in the State were 46% full on Tuesday, with a combined storage for generating 1891. 8 MU.