Temperature continues to soar in the district with the low ranges experiencing 39 degrees Celsius and the high ranges up to 37 degrees Celsius. A farmer suffered sunstroke at Rajakkad and another one at Thodupuzha. Four cases of sunstroke have been reported in the district so far.
Thakidiyel Mathew, 58, was affected by sunstroke while working in the Valiyakandam paddy field. Karimannur resident Paul, 80, was hit by sunstroke when he was sitting under the sun for a short time on Monday.
The Labour Commissioner has directed that workers should not be engaged in works under the direct sun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Migrant workers who are not aware of the direction are more prone to sunstroke incidents, according to a Health Department official.
Labour Department officials have stopped the cable-laying work of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) in the high ranges.
Power supply disruption
Life has become miserable with the disruption of power supply in Thodupuzha and adjoining areas during night.
In Mankulam, near Munnar, temperature rose to 37 degrees Celsius. Residents said that this was for the first time that the temperature soared to that level. There were reports that nearly 25 head of cattle died in a week there either due to heat or diseases.
The district was also under the threat of wildfires. Vast areas of Marayur were destroyed in recent wildfires. Agriculture areas in Nedumkandam and Cheruthony were gutted. The district was experiencing a drought like situation with agriculture crops especially cardamom plantation destroyed in the heatwave.