With the day’s highest temperature revolving around 41 degree Celsius on Monday in Jharkhand, the weather department has predicted some respite after May 22. However, there would be no relief from blistering heat for the next two days, the weather officials said.

SD Kotal, director at Ranchi Meteorological Centre, said, “Most parts of Jharkhand are reeling under extreme hot weather conditions with temperature being recorded up to four degree Celsius above the normal. The similar weather pattern will continue for next two days. Thereafter, a partial relief could be expected after May 22.”

Kotal said a trough line has been developing from northeast to southwest Jharkhand, which is expected to bring sufficient moisture from Bay of Bengal, causing cloudy weather and few spells of rainfall between May 22 and May 24 in Jharkhand.

He, however, added that isolated pockets of Jharkhand would be witnessing thundery development. Parts of East and West Singhbhum recorded thundery development with strong winds on Monday evening, he said.

Palamu recorded the highest temperature at 42.6 degree Celsius while Ranchi recorded the lowest, 39.4 degree Celsius, two degree above the normal.

Special care of animals

Scorching heat is hitting humans as well as animals in the state. Animals are being given special treatment in Jharkhand zoos to protect them from heat wave.

Animals at Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park, popularly known as Birsa Zoo, are being given glucose, electral-mixed drinking water and amino acids to protect them from heat.

Besides ensuring adequate drinking water, the Zoo authority has also installed coolers and sprinklers in the enclosures of animals.

“Animals, particularly carnivores, face harrowing time with rising mercury. So, we have ensured proper summer diet, sufficient drinking water and shades for the animals. Special instructions have been issued to serve glucose and electral-mixed drinking water to the animals so that they could survive the heat,” said Dr Ajay Kumar, the Zoo doctor.

For carnivores like tiger, lion and leopard, the zoo authority has installed coolers besides shades made of straws and grasses around the cages. Herbivores are being given fruits having water contents like cucumber and watermelon.

“We have introduced a new summer plan for langurs, monkeys and bears. They are being given watermelon in ice-blocks form. The practice is giving big relief to these animals,” Kumar said.

Each elephant gets 30kg cucumber and 10kg sugarcane as supplementary food per day and a water pool is also there for them.

He said behavioural changes among animals is natural in summer. Rising temperature increases respiration rate in animals, mainly carnivores, which may cause dehydration among them. “We have taken several precautionary measures to keep them fit. Diets have been restricted for tigers and lions. They are served amino acids to compensate the cut on diet,” Kumar said.

Spread over an area of 250 acres, Birsa Zoo houses 1,100 animals. Kumar claimed that no diseases among animals were reported so far this summer.

First Published: May 21, 2019 14:39 IST