Hit by heat

Blistering summer makes Dhaka life unbearable
The mercury is threatening to hit a new height this summer making life in the capital utterly miserable amid the prevailing power, gas and water crisis.
Except for the north-eastern region, people all over the country have been experiencing moderate heat wave since the beginning of this week. The heat wave may prolong for a few more days in some parts of the country, reported Dhaka Met office.
However, people of some places including Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong divisions may have a sigh of relief as the weather office forecasted rain or thundershowers there in the next 24 hours.
The highest temperature recorded in Dhaka this season so far is 36.7 degrees Celsius while the country’s highest was in Rajshahi– 39.7°C, which is very near to severe heat (40°C).
With little greenery and concrete surface all around, candidates of the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams are the worst victims of all. The sickening-heat adds to their sufferings from an average power-cut for eight to 10 hours a day.
Sales of IPS have increased further in the city as it has become almost impossible to stay indoors when there is no electricity.
“There has been no rain for over a month. Moreover, the sun is now coming overhead increasing the temperature. This will continue till June 21,” said weather expert Sujit Kumar Dev, who is now working with the Saarc Meteorological Research Centre.
The situation in central India and Bihar is even worse than that of Bangladesh, he added.
Residents of different areas in the capital including parts of Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Gandaria, Mohakhali, Gopibagh, Jatrabari and Shantinagar are enduring water crisis or having odorous dirty water amid this blistering heat.
Meanwhile, more people affected by heat and contaminated water related diseases — like diarrhoea, typhoid, jaundice, and heatstroke — are crowding in hospitals.
“The number of outdoor patients mostly with headache, muscle pain, fever and diarrhoea are increasing everyday,” said Prof Mujibur Rahman of Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
Children and senior citizens are the majority of the heat wave sufferers, he added.
ICDDR’B sources said the number of outdoor diarrhoea patients is increasing since the beginning of this week. But the worst is yet to come, they added.
Doctors have suggested drinking of more fluids including water, saline, green coconut water and juices to keep the body from dehydration.

Courtesy of The Daily Star