Heat alert in Chuadanga as temperatures soar above 40°C

The local administration in Chuadanga has issued a heat alert for the bordering district as temperatures have continued to surge over 40°C for the past three consecutive days.

On Friday, the district administration and health department jointly issued an alert urging people to stay indoors unless necessary.

“Upazila administrations in the district are conducting a campaign to warn people,” Kinisjar Chakma, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chuadanga told the Daily Sun.

According to officials at the district meteorological office, the temperature in Chuadanga soared to 40.6 degrees Celsius on April 16, followed by 40.8 degrees Celsius on April 17.

The latest recorded temperature in Chuadanga was 40.4 degrees Celsius on April 18. 

The recorded temperatures are notably high for this time of year in Chuadanga, highlighting the severity of the ongoing heatwave.

“These readings mark the highest temperatures recorded in the country this year,” said Rakibul Hasan, a senior officer of the Meteorological Department in Chuadanga.

He added that such temperatures may persist for a few more days, with no forecast of rain in the immediate future.
In Mujibnagar Upazila, the announcement of the heat alert has been ongoing since morning.

“We have been urging people to stay inside their homes to avoid extreme heat-related health complexities,” said Khairul Islam, Mujibnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

The number of patients suffering from water-borne and heat-related illnesses has increased in the hospital, sources said.

Residents have also refrained from going outdoors unless necessary.

A large number of labourers have fallen into hardship as they can’t work outside for long to earn their livelihood, sources said.