As Tripura continuously witnesses the scorching heat with mercury rising to 40.2 degrees Celsius (Sabroom) in the Norwester season in over 40 years, which has made life miserable in the state, while several areas of the state sizzled as the mercury soared above five degrees normal in last 48-hours.

In Agartala mercury touched 39.8 degrees Celsius on Monday, which is the highest temperature recorded in May over the last 40 years and on the same day the day time temperature recorded at 40.2 degrees Celsius at Sabroom in South Tripura district. On Tuesday, the capital city witnessed 39.6 degrees Celsius maximum temperature and minimum recorded at 26.7 degrees with departure above 6.6 degrees Celsius.  India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials in Agartala said that the last time Agartala has recorded 39.8 degrees Celsius was on May 31, 1979.

The mercury hovered around 40 degrees Celsius in large parts of the country on Tuesday also, the IMD at Agartala has predicted heat wave conditions across the state over the next two days and there are no predictions of rain and thunderstorms in the next 24-hours.

As Tripura is reeling under intense heat along with other parts of the region, the mercury has been hovering between 38-40 degrees Celsius in several Northeastern states also. The current weather condition witnessing a rise in the temperature several notches above for this time of the season has been affecting the normal life.

As Tripura reels under intense heat wave and mercury touching recorded high temperatures during past one month, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), in a bulletin, said that due to prevailing northwesterly and westerly dry hot air and high solar insolation, maximum temperature (in day time) is expected to be in the range of 38-40 degrees Celsius across Tripura during the next  few days and fall slightly thereafter.

In the last mid part of April, the state after a gap of nine years has witnessed 39 degrees plus Celsius temperatures, which has prevailed the very hot and discomportable weather across the state.

Sales of various drinks including cold drinks and ice cream have risen sharply, with local vendors doing brisk business as the dry weather prevails across the state.

The long dry weather has also led to water sources drying up resulting in a drinking water crisis in hilly, remote rural areas. Besides, the drying up of water sources has caused problems for farmers in cultivating summer crops in the state. While, reports said that as the state's power demand rises in the peak hours during the past few weeks, many parts of the state have also witnessed frequent load-shedding and power cuts.

The IMD has also predicted on Wednesday (May 10) the state will witness dry weather with temperatures ranging from 39 degrees and to 40 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature to be around 26 degrees Celsius.

Agartala on Tuesday   recorded a temperature at 39.8 degrees Celsius which is at least 6.6 degrees higher than normal temperature at this time of the year.  Similarly, other parts of the state also witnessed scorching heat during the past one month. The city remained hottest today with relative humidity at about 92 percent and minimum recorded temperature of 26.2 degrees Celsius with departure of plus 3.2 degrees Celsius.

The IMD, Agartala has also advised the people to avoid going out in the sun, especially between morning 10AM to 3 PM, drink more water than usual, wear lightweight, light-coloured, and porous cotton clothes. Use protective goggles, umbrella, hat while going out in sun,avoid alcohol, tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks, which dehydrates the body, avoid high-protein food and do not eat stale food, use homemade drinks like lassi, lemon water, buttermilk, ORS, etc. which helps to re-hydrate the body and  keep animals in shade and give them plenty of water to drink.

IMD also advised the farmers to continue irrigation activities in summer maize, pulses and other crops and vegetables and  are advised to provide proper shelter and ventilation to animals especially during afternoon hours.