kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata, April 22: Large parts of South Bengal, including Kolkata, are reeling under intense and oppressive heat, with the India Meteorological Department warning that the discomfort is likely to persist for several more days. According to officials at the India Meteorological Department office in Alipore, heatwave conditions and sultry weather are expected to continue across the region at least until Sunday, prompting the issuance of weather alerts in multiple districts.

The Met office has indicated that there will be no significant change in temperature across the state over the next seven days. In several western districts of South Bengal, temperatures are forecast to remain 3 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal during this period. Eastern and coastal districts are also likely to record temperatures 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages, compounding the discomfort for residents.

The distress is the high relative humidity, particularly in the coastal belt, where humidity levels are expected to range between 80 and 95 percent. In central districts, humidity is likely to hover between 75 and 85 percent. The combination of elevated temperatures and high moisture content in the air is creating persistently humid and stifling conditions, making daily life increasingly challenging for people across the region.

Districts such as Purulia and Paschim Bardhaman are currently under heatwave warning, with meteorologists cautioning residents to take necessary precautions. Several other districts, including Bankura, Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur and Birbhum, have been placed under a yellow alert for hot and uncomfortable weather. On Thursday, yellow warnings were specifically issued for Jhargram, Bankura, Birbhum, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia and Paschim Bardhaman, highlighting the likelihood of continued heat stress.

Kolkata itself has not been spared. On Wednesday morning, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 28.2 degrees Celsius, which is two degrees above normal for this time of year. The daytime maximum is also expected to remain above average, intensifying the discomfort in the metropolis. With concrete surfaces radiating accumulated heat and humidity levels staying high, the urban population is experiencing sweltering conditions both indoors and outdoors.

Health experts have advised residents to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during peak afternoon hours and take special care of children, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Authorities are also monitoring the situation closely, particularly in districts under heatwave alert, to prevent heat-related illnesses.

South Bengal endures this spell of extreme weather, the forecast of sustained high temperatures and humidity suggests little immediate relief. With no major weather system predicted to bring down temperatures in the coming week, the region braces for continued heat stress, underscoring the growing intensity of pre-monsoon summer conditions across eastern India.