Himachal: Heat wave alert for 2 days: Mercury crosses 40 degrees in 6 cities; Chances of rain on voting day

Shimla : The scorching heat will continue to wreak havoc in Himachal Pradesh even today. The Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange alert of heat wave in six districts and yellow alert in four for Tuesday and Wednesday.

This will further increase the heat in the mountains. The temperature in six cities of the state has already crossed 40 degrees Celsius and in 10 cities it has crossed 35 degrees.

Orange alert has been issued for Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kangra, Solan and Sirmaur districts today, while yellow alert has been issued for Chamba, Shimla, Kullu and Mandi districts regarding heat wave.

Let us tell you that Orange Alert is given in more dangerous situations. This means that today the situation will worsen due to heat in the six districts under orange alert.

Temperature has increased by 6 degrees above normal

The maximum temperature in most of the cities of Himachal Pradesh has become much higher than normal. Compared to normal, there has been a maximum increase of 6.1 degrees in the temperature of the Mandi. The temperature in the Mandi has reached 39.2 degrees Celsius.
The temperature in Hamirpur was also 6 degrees above normal, Shimla by 4.6 degrees, Bilaspur by 5.8 degrees, Bhuntar by 5.1 degrees, Dharamshala by 4.3 degrees, Nahan by 4.8 degrees, Una by 4.9 degrees and in Manali the temperature was also 4 degrees above normal.

It may rain on the day of voting
According to the Meteorological Department, there may be rain in some areas of Shimla and Mandi district on May 31, while rain is forecast in most areas of the state on June 1 and 2, the voting day. In high altitude areas the weather may worsen from tomorrow itself.

Meteorological Department advisory
In view of the warning of heat wave, the Meteorological Department has advised the local people as well as the tourists visiting the mountains to take caution.

Take precautions to prevent heat stroke

What to do:

1. Make the person suffering from heat stroke lie down in the shade. If there are tight clothes, loosen them or remove them.
2. Wipe the body with a cold wet cloth or bathe with cold water.
   
3. Keep your home cool, use curtains, shutters etc. Keep windows open at night.
4. Be alert about weather forecasts and upcoming temperature changes.
5. If you do not feel well or feel dizzy, contact a doctor immediately.
6. Give the person ORS/lemon water/salt-sugar solution to drink, which can increase the amount of water in the body.
7. If the person vomits water or becomes unconscious, do not give him anything to eat or drink.
8. If the condition of a heat stroked person does not improve within an hour, take him immediately to the nearest health center.
9. Keep animals in shade and give them plenty of water to drink.
   

What not to do

1. Do not go out in harsh sunlight as far as possible.

2. Do not work hard in high temperatures.

3. Do not consume alcohol, tea, coffee, excessively sweet beverages, cold drinks and gas containing substances.

4. Do not let children play in the sun.

5. Do not eat stale food. Do not cook during peak heat.

6. Do not leave children and pets alone in the car in the sun.

7. Drink water as often as possible, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Always keep drinking water with you while travelling.

8. Whenever you go out in the sun, wear light-colored and loose-fitting cotton clothes, use sunglasses, cover your head with a towel or cap and always wear shoes or slippers.

First aid measures in case of heatstroke

1. Increase air flow by using a fan.
   
2. Wipe the body with a wet cloth or sprinkle water on yourself.