Guwahati: Four persons have died so far in various parts of Assam including one in Guwahati due to the prevailing hot weather conditions.
It was the hottest day on Wednesday in almost a decade for the residents of Assam especially those living in the region’s main city of Guwahati with the mercury level recording the highest June temperature since 1979.
A pavement dweller in Guwahati city and three other persons –one each in districts of Nagaon, Hailakandi and Silchar – have died so far due hot weather conditions.
The Deputy Commissioner Kamrup (Mertropolitan) district has ordered closure of all government and private schools in Guwahati city and other parts of the district for three days from tomorrow (from Thursday till Saturday) in order to shield the school children from the prevailing hot weather much to the relief of the guardians.
According to sources in the Regional Meteorological Centre here, the local temperatures in all parts of Assam soared during the day in absence of rain and lack of sufficient moisture in the atmosphere.
The lack of moisture in the air led to blowing of hot air much to the agony of the people on the streets.
Guwahati city recorded 38.8 degree Celsius maximum temperature till Wenesday afternoon, as per Regional Meteorological Centre sources. The maximum temperature has crossed the all-time high of 38.5 degree Celsius for the month of June, recorded in 1979, as per data available on the Indian Meteorological Department website.
The hot weather conditions are likely remain unchanged in Assam for another couple of days as a cyclonic circulation over North-West
Bay and neighbourhood has prevented flow of moisture-laden air from the Bay of Bengal to the NE region. The North-West Bay development has been sending out a dry easterly wind to the NE region.
There has been brisk selling of coconut water, ice cream and cold drinks in the city since yesterday as the mercury continues to rise with no sign of rain in next few days. Streets in many parts of Guwahati were devoid of pedestrians during the most hot hours of Wednesday.