The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority have warned of potential heatwaves in select areas of Kollam, Palakkad, and Thrissur districts. Officials reported two fatalities—a middle-aged man and an elderly woman—due to sunstroke in Kerala as the state grapples with intense heat. The deaths occurred in the northern Kerala districts of Kannur and Palakkad.
As Kerala contends with soaring temperatures, the meteorological department has issued high-temperature alerts for 12 districts over the next five days.
In response to the adverse weather conditions disrupting daily life, the Women and Child Development Department has decided to suspend preschool activities in Anganwadis across the state for a week.
Regarding the fatalities, a health official in Palakkad district disclosed that a 90-year-old woman was discovered deceased in a canal in Elappully village on Sunday, April 28. The woman, who suffered from dementia, succumbed to sunstroke after wandering outside her home. Post-mortem examination revealed burn injuries on her body, confirming the cause of death as sunstroke.
In another incident, a 53-year-old man, originally from Mahe, died from sunstroke-related complications while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kannur district. The man had exhibited symptoms of breathlessness after working on a well-digging project in the Pallur area near Chokli on April 26. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, his condition deteriorated, leading to his demise on Sunday morning. Although no burn injuries were evident, other symptoms indicated sunstroke as the cause of death.
As for the weather forecast, the IMD issued an Orange alert for Palakkad and a Yellow alert for Kollam and Thrissur districts on Monday, April 29. Maximum temperatures are expected to range from 36 to 41 degrees Celsius across various districts from April 29 to May 3, with heightened humidity levels exacerbating the heatwave conditions. Specifically, Kollam, Palakkad, and Thrissur districts may experience localized heatwave conditions on Monday.
