Met issues yellow alert for heatwave in Bihar

PATNA: At least four districts experienced heatwave conditions for the second consecutive day on Tuesday even as maximum temperature at most places in the state remained above 40 degrees C.
The places where heatwave was declared on Tuesday included Banka, Sheikhpura, Khagaria and Purnia. Sheikhpura was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 42.6 degrees C, followed by Aurangabad (42.2 degrees C) and Patna (42 degrees C).
The maximum temperature was recorded at above 42 degrees C at the three automatic weather stations in Patna, including airport (42.6 degrees C), Danapur (43.5 degrees C) and Bypass Road (43.1 degrees C).
Any respite from the scorching heat is unlikely over the next few days as the Patna Meteorological Centre has issued a yellow alert for heatwave in several districts in the state over the next three days, including Patna, Purnia, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Banka.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) headquarters also stated in its evening bulletin that heatwave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets over Bihar till Thursday.
The IMD stated in its evening bulletin on Tuesday that the maximum temperature was appreciably above normal (3.1 degrees C-5.0 degrees C) at many places in Bihar.
"Several districts in south and north-eastern parts of the state are likely to witness heatwave conditions over the next 24 hours," said Neha Kumari, an official at Patna Meteorological Centre. She added maximum temperature would surge by two to three notches over the next three days.
The surging mercury is further getting aggravated with hot westerly winds. Westerly or north-westerly winds were gusting at a speed of up to 20-30kmph on Tuesday.