As Tripura continuous witnessing the scorching heat with dry spell in the pre-norwester season, which has made life miserable in the state and after announcement of six days closure of all the government and government-aided schools , the state government on Tuesday has also announced closure of all Anganwadi centres up to April 23rd next due to the prevailing heat wave conditions.

The government has also decided to deliver the food items to all beneficiary families during holidays.

The mercury hovered around 40 degrees Celsius in large parts of the country on Tuesday, the IMD at Agartala has predicted heat wave conditions across the state over the next three days , but there are predictions of rain and thundershower at isolated places of the state on April 20 and 21st next.

As Tripura is reeling under intense heat along with other parts of the region, a trader in Sabroom subdivision on Tuesday died from sunstroke.

Reports said that a deceased trader identified as Ranjit Dey (54) on way to a local market had complained of severe chest pain and rushed to his daughter's house , from where he was shifted to district hospital and on way to GB Hospital, he succumbed due to sun stroke.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) sources said that the cloudy weather and light rain may provide some relief from the heat in Tripura on Thursday and Friday next.

The IMD said a western disturbance active in the western Himalayan region will provide some relief from the soaring temperatures in the plains of Northwest India starting Tuesday and gradually it will move towards the Northeast region including Tripura.

The threshold for a heat wave is met when the maximum temperature reaches 39.3 degrees Celsius on April 14 and 15 in Tripura after 9 years , the departure from normal is at least 4.5 degrees.

Earlier this month, the MET office predicted above-normal maximum temperatures for most parts of the country from April to June, except parts of the northwest and the peninsular regions.

The day temperatures decrease by a few notches at 37.6 degrees Celsius in Agartala, which is higher than normal temperature at this time of the year.  Similarly, other parts of the state also witnessed scorching heat during the past fortnight. The city remained hottest on Tuesday  with relative humidity at about 92 percent and recorded a minimum temperature of 27.4 degrees Celsius with minimum departure of plus a few degrees Celsius.

 As Tripura reels under intense heat wave and mercury touching recorded high temperatures during past fortnight, 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 35-39 degrees Celsius across Tripura during the next 5 days and fall slightly thereafter. In the present month of April, the state after a gap of nine years has witnessed 39 degrees plus Celsius temperatures, which has prevails the very hot and discomportable weather across the state

The IMD advised the people to take precautionary measures while going outside during day time between 10 AM to 3 PM.

Sales of various drinks including cold drinks and ice cream have risen sharply, with local vendors doing brisk business. 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. Few areas of Agartala have also witnessed power cuts for a short period during the past few days.

The IMD has also predicted on Wednesday (April 19), the state will witness dry weather with temperatures ranging from 36 degrees and to 38 degrees Celsius and can witness rain and thunderstorms in isolated places on April 20 and 21st next.

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 is advised to provide proper shelter and ventilation to animals especially during afternoon hours.