Bengaluru, 11 other districts likely to get year's first pre-monsoon showers this week

Bengaluru: Shortly after Bengaluru saw its hottest day of the year on March 7, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the first pre-monsoon rainfall in the city, South Interior Karnataka and Coastal Karnataka this week. 

According to the Met Centre, isolated light rainfall and thundershowers are likely in 12 districts, including Bengaluru Urban, between March 11 and 13. 

N Puviarasan, Head of Met Centre, Bengaluru, said: "The light showers will be accompanied by lightning and thunder, and the pre-monsoon showers are likely to continue intermittently." 

The official added that the reason for pre-monsoon showers was convection, or vertical exchange of heat and other air-mass properties like water vapour throughout the troposphere. 

While Kolar, Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Ramanagara, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu and Hassan districts of South Interior Karnataka, and Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Coastal Karnataka are likely to get light isolated thundershowers, dry weather is likely to prevail in other parts of the state. 

But no respite from heat 

However, the light isolated showers may not bring respite from the heat, with the maximum and minimum temperature in Bengaluru Urban likely to be around 34 and 20 degrees Celsius, respectively, on March 11. 

According to the IMD, hot and humid conditions will prevail in the coastal districts. 

The IMD has warned people with moderate health concerns, “vulnerable people” like infants, elderly and people with chronic diseases to avoid heat exposure in Bengaluru. 

Suggested Actions by IMD 

• Avoid heat exposure. 

• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose, cotton clothes.

• Cover your head using a cloth, hat or umbrella. 

Trade union demands half-day work for pourakarmikas 

With temperatures rising, the All India Central Council of Trade Unions has urged the government to announce half-day work with weekly off for municipal workers. 

In a memorandum submitted to the urban development and social welfare departments, it stated that pourakarmikas should be provided drinking water, ORS and buttermilk. Eye-shades, caps/hats and umbrellas should also be provided to protect the workers from heat exposure.