Ahmedabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for severe heatwave conditions over parts of Gujarat for the next 48 hours, warning of very high temperatures across several districts of the state, particularly in Saurashtra-Kutch and North Gujarat.

According to the weather bulletin issued this afternoon, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed at many places in Saurashtra-Kutch and at a few places in the Gujarat region during the past 24 hours. The highest maximum temperature in the state was recorded at 41.6°C in Rajkot and Surendranagar, while the lowest minimum temperature was 17.4°C at Naliya.

The IMD said severe heatwave conditions are very likely to continue at several places during the next two days.

As per the bulletin, severe heatwave conditions are very likely to prevail at a few pockets in the districts namely Banaskantha, Patan, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Junagadh and Kutch today and tomorrow, and an orange alert has been issued for these places.

Additionally, a yellow alert has been issued for likely heatwave conditions in Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Kheda, Anand, Baroda, Bharuch and Surat, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, Botad and in Diu.

Following that, on March 12, heatwave conditions are very likely to prevail at isolated pockets in the districts of the Gujarat region namely Banaskantha, Patan and Mehsana; and at a few places in the districts of Saurashtra-Kutch namely Surendranagar, Rajkot, Amreli, Morbi and Kutch.

The department has also warned of hot and humid conditions over coastal areas of Gujarat and Saurashtra-Kutch between March 10 and March 13, which may cause discomfort and increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.

IMD stated that maximum temperatures are likely to remain high for the next three days, after which a gradual fall of 2–4°C is expected. Minimum temperatures are likely to remain largely unchanged during the next week. Dry weather is forecast across Gujarat, Diu, Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli for the next seven days.

For Ahmedabad city, the forecast for the next 24 hours indicates a clear sky with the maximum temperature likely to reach around 41°C and the minimum around 23°C.

Under the orange alert, IMD has advised people to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, stay hydrated, wear light cotton clothes and take extra care of children, elderly persons and those with health problems, as the risk of heat-related illness remains high. DeshGujarat