Heatwave sweeps Vidarbha region

A heatwave has gripped Maharashtra's Vidarbha region with mercury shooting to the level of 42 to 44 degree Celsius.

The heatwave has affected even political campaign as going outdoors in the post-noon hours is difficult— the 10 constituencies of the central Indian region of Vidarbha go to polls in the first two phases on April 11 and 18.

Reports from Vidarbha suggested that workers of political parties are starting early for outdoor campaign and in the noon and post-noon hours they do networking from party and candidates' offices and again leave for outdoors in the evening.

According to IMD's Mumbai-based Regional Meteorological Centre and Skymet Weather, the entire Vidarbha is in the grip of a heatwave.

"Heatwave warning has been issued for Vidarbha for the next 48 hours," IMD deputy director general K S Hosalikar tweeted on Saturday evening.

The heatwave took the temperature in Nagpur, the orange capital, to 43 degree Celsius plus.

On Sunday, Akola registered 44 degree Celsius, followed by Amravati, Chandrapur and Wardha, where mercury was 43 degree Celsius.

Yavatmal recorded 43 degree Celsius while Brahmapuri recorded 41 degree Celsius.

"During the noons, roads are deserted because of the heat," said Poonam Tiwari, an activist based in Chandrapur.

"This time temperatures seems to have soared too early," he said.

"It is advised to taken in lot of fluids, juices, nimbu paani and butter milk. Also one needs to cover their head as well," said Nagpur-based Pachendrakumar Tembhare, who extensively travels in the Vidarbha region.