RAICHUR, 16 MARCH

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning regarding escalating temperatures across North Interior Karnataka from 15 to 19 March, prompting Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao to advise citizens to take precautions and avoid being outside between 12 noon and 3 pm.

Ainapur Hobli village in Kalaburagi district recorded the highest temperature at 42.8 degrees Celsius in the past 24 hours. Speaking in Raichur, Rao stated that the government is contemplating adjusting work hours for public offices, advising field officers to refrain from outdoor visits during peak heat. He noted that temperatures in Raichur district could approach 43 to 44 degrees Celsius.

Rao urged educational institutions to implement necessary precautions to safeguard students from the high temperatures, emphasising the importance of staying hydrated and making use of facilities in government hospitals.

The IMD has predicted a rise in maximum temperatures by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in North Interior Karnataka between 15 and 17 March, alongside a heatwave warning for isolated areas on 18 and 19 March.

Although minimal fluctuations in maximum temperatures are expected in South Interior Karnataka over the next 24 hours, a gradual increase of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius is anticipated thereafter. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) reported that numerous districts experienced maximum temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, with extreme heat noted in areas such as Bagalkote and Belagavi.