North Bengal districts are reeling under heat wave-like conditions for the past four five days with soaring temperatures and excessive humidity till late evening.
Over the past few days, a number of school students have fallen sick and family members of a college girl in Cooch Behar district claimed she died on Thursday owing to sunstroke.
This unusual weather during monsoon is likely to prevail for some more days after which there is a chance of rainfall, hinted weather experts.
Across the region, the maximum temperature is anywhere between 36°C to 38°C.
“Added to it high humidity gives the feeling of around 45°C. Scorching heat has become a cause of concern and many people are feeling dehydrated and ill,” said a senior physician in Siliguri.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, in the past 24 hours, the maximum temperature was recorded in Balurghat (38.5°C), followed by Cooch Behar (38.1°C), Jalpaiguri (38°C), Malda (37.9°C) and Siliguri (36.7°C).
Experts said that a place can be said to have heat wave if the maximum temperature crosses 40°C and is 4.5°C to 6.4°C higher than the normal average. In north Bengal, the maximum temperature may not have touched the 40°C but is five to seven degrees above the normal average this monsoon.
“Even in hilly areas like Darjeeling, the maximum temperature is around 25°C. In Kurseong, people are switching on fans. This is indeed rare during monsoon,” said Rajen Lama, a Kurseong resident.
In north Bengal, there had been a drastic change in weather conditions during the ongoing monsoon season. Last month, when the southwest monsoon was active in the region, there had been days of incessant rainfall and in some places like Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, intense rainfall to the tune of 200mm was recorded in a single day which led to flash floods, inundation and water-logging.
“It seemed like the rain would not stop and now we have to bear the heat. Usually, it rains in and around Siliguri after couple of days of scorching heat but not this time,” said Pradip Chakraborty, a retired government employee.
In Dinhata of Cooch Behar, Chumki Roy, 22, a third-year student of Dinhata College, died after a brief illness on Thursday. She had appeared in her sixth semester exam and had been standing in the queue for a while to submit her papers when she fell sick. She was rushed to the local sub-divisional hospital where she died. Her family members claimed that she died of sunstroke.
Sources said that attendance in schools of the twin Dinajpurs has dipped owing to heat.
Shankar Ghosh, the BJP MLA of Siliguri, sent a letter to state education minister Bratya Basu, requesting him to make arrangements so that classes in high schools can be held in the morning hours.
“I hope the minister will understand the situation and take necessary initiatives. The heat has become unbearable for everybody, including students,” said Ghosh.
Ghosh had objected earlier when the state had announced extended summer holidays.
The weather was pleasant in north Bengal then. But scorching heat in some southern districts prompted the decision. Holidays in north Bengal were not necessary, he had pointed out. “Those who decided to announce summer holidays then should realise that such holidays are needed in north Bengal districts now,” the MLA said.
A number of teachers’ associations, including the Siksha Cell of Trinamul, have sent letters to different authorities, seeking change in school hours.
