Sizzling at 41°C, Palakkad dist reels under heatstroke threat

PALAKKAD: Palakkad district is reeling under a severe heatwave as the mercury level touched this year’s record 41°C for the second consecutive day on Thursday. The temperature was recorded by the Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC) in Mundur. The minimum temperature recorded was 26°C on Thursday, while the humidity level was 38 per cent.  

The maximum temperature recorded by IRTC, Mundur, had been 40°C for five consecutive days before it touched 41°C for the first time on Wednesday. Last year, the maximum temperature of 41°C was recorded by IRTC on March 15. The same was recorded on March 25, 26, 27 and 28 also. The IRTC also recorded 41°C for two days in April last year. 

Police surgeon P B Gujral who conducted the postmortem examination of the body of autorickshaw driver Santosh, 46, of Kalasadanam in Mundur, who was found dead in a paddy field near his house on Wednesday, reported that the cause of death was sunburn. He said the matter was duly reported to the sub inspector of the Kongad police station.

This was the first official heat-related death reported in the district this season. Gujral, who had conducted a study on the temperatures in three seasons in the district four years ago, said it was in 2007 that the first death due to sunburn, that of Kunjan, was reported from Cherpulassery. When it was diagnosed as sunburn at that time, people poked fun of the finding stating that there was no such thing as sunburn or sunstroke, he said.

The study showed that women who had closed windows of their kitchens from 11am to 4pm in summer months when there was high temperature outside used to fall unconscious. Therefore, he had recommended cross-ventilation in all houses in the district.