Government issues guidelines to tackle possible heatwave

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amidst intense hot weather conditions across the state, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday convened a meeting of the disaster management authority to assess the possibility of heatwave. The CM, during the meeting, directed the closure of all educational institutions, including professional colleges, until May 6.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that heatwave conditions are likely to prevail at one or two places in Alappuzha, Palakkad, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts on May 3.On Thursday, Kozhikode recorded 39°C, marking its third-highest May temperature ever. IMD also issued a warning for hot and humid temperatures with mercury levels likely to be 3-5 degrees above normal in 12 districts until May 6.
Vijayan instructed district collectors to ensure that people are not forced to work under direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm. The meeting observed that the working hours of construction workers, agricultural workers, hawkers, fishermen and those engaged in other strenuous jobs should be adjusted accordingly.