With mercury hovering over 41 degree Celsius across Jharkhand on Thursday, the weather department issued season’s first heat wave alert for nine districts, where maximum temperature crossed five degree Celsius above the normal.

Heat wave conditions have gripped capital Ranchi, which recorded season’s highest temperature at 41.8 degree Celsius, five degree above normal, on Thursday. Remaining eight districts facing heat wave are Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Chatra, Gumla, Simdega, Lohardaga and Khunti . In view of the extreme hot weather condition, Palamu and Latehar administrations have asked all government and private schools not to extend classes after 10 am.

“No relief is expected from the sweltering weather condition for next couple of days. We have issued the heat wave alert for Thursday and Friday. A partial decline in temperature is expected after May 11 particularly in southern belt of Jharkhand,” said SD Kotal, director at Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

Kotal said unrestricted strong wind at speed of 10-15 kmph from central India, which has been facing extreme heat for past several days, has increased state’s normal temperature. “Maximum temperature is likely to be above five degree Celsius in nine districts, while rest of the districts may face mercury above 3-4 degree Celsius for next 48 hours,” he said.

Daltonganj was state’s hottest district on Thursday, where maximum temperature was recorded at 44.6 degree Celsius, four degree Celsius above the normal.

The scorching sun heat has also impacted the poll campaign of political parties. Several independent and candidates from unregistered political parties have cut-short their campaign schedule in view of the heat wave condition.

Jharkhand’s four parliamentary constituencies – Giridih, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur and Singhbhum – are going to polls on May 12.

Dhanbad BJP president Chandrasekhar Singh said, “Extreme hot weather condition has emerged as major challenge. But, we are sweating it out for the election, as it is a matter of nation-building. So, every worker and leaders of the political party are braving scorching heat doing their jobs for election campaign.

An independent candidate from Jamshedpur, who did not wish to be quoted, said, “I have skipped afternoon campaigning due to extreme heat. I mostly go out for campaigning in morning and evening.”

First Published: May 10, 2019 15:27 IST