Photo: Messenger
People’s lives are under extreme threat due to prolonged heatwave. The intensity of the heat has spread in every region of the country. On Tuesday, the temperature in several districts of the country rose to the highest level in three eras, and seven people died due to heat stroke in three different districts caused by intense heatwave.
According to the sources of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the highest temperature of the country was recorded on Tuesday in Jashore, 43.8 degrees Celsius. Earlier in 2009, Jashore recorded the highest temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius. As a result, desert heat prevails in Jashore with record-breaking maximum temperature this season. Along with this, increasing load-shedding and acute water crisis across the country have made people’s lives more miserable.
According to the Khulna Divisional Meteorological Office, severe heatwave has continued in Jashore for the past two weeks. During the last few days, there has been a very intense heatwave. Meanwhile, the highest temperature of this season has been recorded in Jashore on Tuesday afternoon.
The maximum temperature in Chuadanga that day was 43.7 degrees Celsius. Earlier on Monday (April 29), the highest temperature in the country was 43 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga. The maximum temperature recorded in Jashore that day was 42.8 degrees Celsius. And last Sunday afternoon, the highest temperature of the country was recorded at 42.2 degree Celsius in Jashore. Jashore recorded the highest temperature of 42.4 degrees Celsius last Thursday.
Amirul Azad, officer-in-charge of Khulna Meteorological Office, told The Daily Messenger that Jashore Air Force Meteorological Office recorded the maximum temperature of 43.8 degrees Celsius in Jashore at 3pm on Tuesday, which is the highest temperature in the country. Besides, the second highest temperature of 43.7 degree Celsius was recorded in Chuadanga. Besides, Khulna recorded 41.5 degrees, Mongla 42 degrees, and Satkhira 42.2 degrees Celsius. At that time, the amount of water vapour in the air was 28 per cent.
According to the Meteorological Department, the temperature during the mild heatwave is 36 to 37.9 degrees Celsius. A moderate heatwave has a temperature of 38 to 39.9 degrees Celsius. And intense heat wave from 40 to 41.9 degrees Celsius. If the temperature exceeds 42 degrees Celsius, it is characterised as extreme heatwave.
Chuadanga recorded a temperature of 43.7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the highest in the district since 1988. Confirming the matter, Jaminur Rahman, in-charge of Chuadanga First Class Meteorological Observatory, told The Daily Messenger that at 3pm on Tuesday, Chuadanga recorded a temperature of 43.7 degrees Celsius, which is the highest since the establishment of Chuadanga Meteorological Office (in 36 years).
He also said that previously, 43 degrees was recorded in 2005, 43.2 degrees in 2014 and 43 degrees Celsius last Monday (April 29). But the temperature of 43.7 degrees Celsius was recorded on Tuesday, breaking all records in the 36-year history.
Meanwhile, the temperature of Pabna is increasing with time. Breaking the record of the previous day, creating a new record. Intense to very intense heatwaves are sweeping over the district. Ishwardi in Pabna recorded a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the highest this season in Pabna district. And air humidity was recorded at 15 per cent.
Nazmul Haque Ranjan, assistant observer of Ishwardi Meteorological Office, said that the temperature was recorded at 43.2 degrees Celsius in Ishwardi. This is the highest temperature in this district this season. Temperature is expected to rise further. Along with that, very intense heat waves are flowing in the district.
The temperature in Rajshahi has also broken the record of 19 years. The maximum temperature of the day was recorded at 43 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi at 3pm on Tuesday. Shahidul Islam, senior observer of Rajshahi Meteorological Observatory, confirmed this fact.
Shahidul Islam said that the temperature of Rajshahi was 41.8 degrees Celsius at 12 noon on Tuesday. It rose to 43 degrees Celsius at 3 pm. The highest temperature recorded in Rajshahi was 42.8 degrees Celsius on May 2, 2005. Earlier, on May 18, 1972, the maximum temperature in Rajshahi was 45.1 degrees Celsius. Although that record was not broken, the highest temperature was recorded in 19 years on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, seven people have died of heat stroke in three districts of the country due to intense heatwave. In this, four people died from possible heat stroke in different parts of Nilphamari district amid the sweltering heat across the country. The deceased were identified as Lal Babu, 52 of Sadar upazila, Manir Hossain, 52 of Dimla upazila, Mansur, 55 and Khodeza, 65 of Jaldhaka upazila of the district.
All of them suddenly fell sick and died while working under the open sky amid the intense hot weather, said Ashraful Haque, officer-in-charge of Jaldhaka police station. Local Met office recorded 42 degrees Celsius temperature in the district on Tuesday.
Besides, two people died of heat stroke in Munshiganj due to intense heatwave. One died at 10:50am and another at 11:10am on Tuesday. The deceased are Omar Ali, son of Babu Hazari of Mollarchar area of Munshiganj municipality and Baten Majhi, a resident of Manikpur area. Munshiganj General Hospital’s emergency department doctor Shaibal Basak confirmed the matter.
Apart from this, an expatriate named Khairul Islam (50) died of heat stroke while working in a maize field in Natore. The incident took place in Ujanpara area of Khajura Union of Naldanga Upazila around 11 o'clock on Tuesday. Khairul is the son of Abdur Rahman of Uzanpara area of upazila. He was a Saudi expatriate. Dr Moshiur Rahman, Civil Surgeon of Natore confirmed that he died of heat stroke.
However, in the last seven days, 10 people have died of heat stroke across the country, according to the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the Department of Health. Control room officials confirmed this information on Tuesday. According to control room data, 2 out of 3 people who died of heat stroke died in Madaripur district. Another person died in Chittagong.
Among them, 3 people died on Monday, the directorate said, all 3 who died of heat stroke on Monday were men. Besides, 5 more people are admitted in different hospitals of the country due to heat stroke. An official said that this information is being collected from all over the country by monitoring the control room since April 22.
Meanwhile, the railway line has been bent in the intense heat in the Arikhola railway station area of Gazipur. A part of the up line on the Dhaka-Chittagong route got bent around 1 pm on Tuesday. Pubail Railway Station Master Abdur Rahman confirmed the matter and said that at least 10 feet of railway line has bent in Pubail Arikhola area due to excessive heat in the ongoing heatwave.
Messenger/Disha
