AHMEDABAD: As the city roasted under a blazing sun on Monday, temperatures soared to 42.9°C, making it the second consecutive day of severe heat. With a yellow alert issued for parts of Gujarat, the coming days could be even tougher. Emergency services and hospitals are already reporting more heat-related health complaints. And, the Met department warns that things will get worse before they get better.
The maximum temperature was 3.5 degrees higher than normal. At 26.5°C, the minimum temperature was also 2.7 degrees higher than normal.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, the maximum temperature is likely to be around 43°C on Tuesday. The forecast mentioned, “Rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3 degrees during the next 4 days, thereafter, fall by 2-3 degrees is very likely over the region.”
The forecast mentions that maximum temperatures will hover between 41°C and 45°C across Gujarat from April 15 to 17.
Several districts, including Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Rajkot and Kutch, are expected to see isolated heatwave conditions starting Tuesday. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for these areas to caution residents about the rising risk.
Kandla was the hottest spot in the state on Monday, recording a scorching 43.6°C. Ahmedabad followed with 42.9°C, while Surendranagar logged 42.7°C, Gandhinagar 42.5°C, and both Rajkot and Bhavnagar hit 42.2°C.
The unrelenting heat has led to a steady spike in calls to EMRI 108 for heat-related emergencies. City doctors have also reported a noticeable rise in patients suffering from dehydration, diarrhoea, fever, headaches, and muscle pain — all symptoms linked to prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
A physician from the city stressed the need for simple but crucial precautions: “People should stay hydrated, cover their heads when stepping out, avoid peak heat hours, and try not to move suddenly from air-conditioned rooms into direct sunlight. The alerts issued by the Met department are meant to help people prepare and prevent serious heat-related health issues.”