Bhubaneswar : Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) & ACS Revenue & Disaster Management Satyabrata Sahu today issued a warning to District Collectors that all outdoor activities by labourers and workers are strictly prohibited during day time from 11 AM to 3 PM in view of prevailing heatwave condition in the State.
The SRC has asked all Collectors to strictly implement the direction following media reports on workers continuing to work during high temperatures today.
It has come to the notice of the Government that labourers/workmen are still working in the peak hours in some districts which has been restricted earlier and the working time has been rescheduled, the SRC said.
“It is strictly prohibited to work by the labourers/workmen during the peak hours from 11 AM to 3 PM during Summer. If there would be any deviation of the instructions, the concerned officer shall be personally held responsible and action shall be initiated as per relevant Sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005,” warned Shri Sahu.
He said detailed instructions have been communicated to Collectors earlier on preparedness and precautionary measures required to be taken to combat heat wave situations across the State.
The IMD, Bhubaneswar has forecast that hot and humid weather conditions and heat waves are likely over districts of Odisha during next five days. Under its impact heat is intolerable for outdoor activities, he added.
According to IMD, Baripada town in Mayurbhanj district recorded a maximum temperature of 41.4 degrees Celsius while capital city Bhubaneswar, Chandbali and Nuapada witnessed a day temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius each.
The maximum temperature was 41 degrees Celsius at Jagatsinghpur & Paralakhemundi, followed by Kendrapara (40.2 degrees C), Khurda (40.5 degrees C), Nayagarh (40.5 degrees C), Bhawanipatna, Bolangir, Jajpur, Balasore & Bhadrak (40 degrees C), it said.
Due to prevailing north westerly/westerly dry air and high solar insolation, the day temperature would be more than 40 degrees Celsius at many places in the state during the next four to five days, IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre said in a bulletin.
The temperature would be around 38 to 40 degrees Celsius in coastal Odisha. The temperature will rise to 39 to 42 degrees Celsius in the interior pocket.
Similarly, the night temperature is also likely to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius at many places in the state during the next three days, it said.
Forecasting the heatwave, the IMD centre has issued Yellow Warning (be updated) for Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Khordha, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal. districts for April 16.
Hot and humid weather conditions would prevail at some places over the districts of Puri, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur during the day, it said.
The weather officer has also issued Yellow Warning for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Khordha, Balasore, Angul, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Boudh districts for April 17.
Further, heatwave warning has been issued for f Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Khordha, Balasore, Angul, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Sonepur and Boudh districts for April 18.
Moreover, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Khordha, Angul, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Sonepur & Boudh districts would experience heat wave condition on April 19.
The Met centre has advised people to take precautionary measures while going outside during day time between 11 am to 3 pm.
Election rallies/gatherings need to be judiciously monitored during peak hours of the day (11am to 3pm), Also people going for poll rallies are advised to take necessary precautions to avoid prolonged exposure in high humid & temperature areas, the centre said.