The Jharkhand health department has issued a heatwave advisory and a directive for daily surveillance report of heat-related illnesses with temperature in nearly half of the state's districts (out of 24) touching 40 degree Celsius mark.

State additional chief secretary (health) Arun Kumar Singh speaking to The Telegraph informed that the state nodal office of national program on climate change and human health has issued the advisory for wide publicity in government media and through information and awareness campaigns both through private media.

“The advisory contains preventive steps to be taken against heatwave and loo. It contains simple advisories like drinking enough water, coming out of the house during day time fully covered, covering their head using an umbrella, towel or cap and using sunglasses to protect their eyes while going outside. It also advises on wearing light coloured loose fitting cotton clothes and wearing shoes and slippers while going outside,” said Arun Kumar.

The advisory also asks people to regularly use salt-sugar solution, lemon water, fruit juices, cucumber, watermelons and muskmelons and lassi.

It also advises steps to be taken for a person suffering heatstroke.

“The state unit of National Health Mission has also directed all civil surgeons in the districts to send daily surveillance reports on heat related illness and ensuring adherence to treatment protocols of diseases during heatwave as per National Action plan on heat related illnesses 2021,” added Arun Kumar Singh.

The daily surveillance report on heat-related illness has to be entered in the Integrated Health Information Platform portal of the Union health ministry by July 31 and a copy should be sent to the state health department.

It also advises stocking adequate amounts of intravenous fluids, essential medicines, ORS and necessary equipment.

Weather experts predicted a surge in temperature in the next week.

“Half of Jharkhand is having temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius. The mercury may further rise by two to three degree Celsius in the next two days due to unrestricted flow of dry wind from Rajasthan and Central India. Parts of Jharkhand might face heatwave conditions (between 40 and 45 degree Celsius) from next week,”,” said Abhishek Anand, in charge of Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

Twenty-three out of 24 districts of the state have received no rainfall between April 7 and April 13.

Jamshedpur and Daltonganj sizzled at 41.7 degree Celsius, the highest in the state on Thursday, while state capital Ranchi, which is known for its pleasant weather, recorded 38.2 degree Celsius, 2.3 degree above the normal.

Above normal maximum temperature is likely to be observed over most parts of the state till April 20, which may hover between 37 and 43 degree Celsius, he said.

Meanwhile, Parents Association in Jamshedpur submitted a memorandum with the deputy commissioner East Singhbhum Vijaya Jadhav requesting for changing school timings due to the intense heat.