By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 23: Extreme heat has gripped the western part of the country, with temperatures consistently soaring to 40 degrees Celsius or above.
The Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) has issued a special weather bulletin on Friday, warning of severe heat wave conditions in the plains and hilly areas of western Tarai.
According to the special heat wave bulletin, a “moderate heat wave” (hot winds) is projected to scorch the Tarai belt of Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces for the next three days, while the adjacent hilly regions will experience “hot day” conditions.
The department has urged local authorities and residents in the affected areas to take immediate precautionary measures to minimise health risks.
Binu Maharjan, a senior meteorologist at the Division, said that an intense spell of extreme heat has gripped the western region since May 20. Maximum temperatures in several pockets of the Sudurpaschim and Lumbini plains, alongside select hilly areas, have regularly broken the 40 degrees Celsius mark. Similarly, numerous other stations in these regions have reported sustained temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius.
According to DHM, an analysis of nationwide weather patterns indicated that there was no immediate relief from the heat wave. “Over the next three days, temperatures are expected to hover at or above 38 degrees Celsius across many parts of the hilly and Tarai terrains of Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces, with a few areas peaking past 40 degrees Celsius,” the DHM bulletin said.
Alerts issued for 17 districts
The DHM has classified the vulnerable districts into two risk categories. Six districts — Kanchanpur, Kailali, Doti, Bardiya, Banke, and Dang — have been placed under high alert. Residents and local administrative bodies in these areas are advised to finalise heat-mitigation preparations.
Similarly, 11 districts have been advised to closely monitor updates. These include Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Achham, Surkhet, Salyan, Rolpa, Pyuthan, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Rupandehi and Kapilvastu.
Meanwhile, our Nepalgunj correspondent, Siraj Khan, reported that daily life in Banke district has been severely disrupted due to the heatwave over the past few days.
The scorching winds have affected life across Banke and other Tarai districts in western part of the country. Since around 7 am, intense sunshine and hot winds have made conditions unbearable.
Due to the heatwave, roads and marketplaces in both urban and rural areas have remained largely empty during the daytime as movement of vehicles and people has declined, said local trader Javed Rai of Tribhuvan Chowk in Nepalgunj.
According to him, labourers and daily wage workers who depend on day-to-day earnings for survival have been hit the hardest. Auto-rickshaw and cart drivers have also reported difficulty working in the extreme heat.
Rashid Halwai of Nepalgunj-1, who rents an auto-rickshaw to earn a living, said his income has dropped as there are hardly any passengers on the roads during the day due to the extreme heat.
He added that while the markets are usually busy, they have now become relatively quiet, with very few people seen on the streets and junctions.
Doctors have advised people to avoid going outdoors during peak daytime heat, stay in cool places, and when going outside, cover their heads, wear caps, and use light cotton clothing.
Dr. Bipin Acharya of Bheri Hospital urged the public to drink water frequently, along with juice or other fluids, to prevent dehydration during the ongoing heatwave and extreme heat conditions.
The Rising Nepal
