Kerala turning into heat chamber; electricity demand reaches record high

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The unbearable summer in Kerala is turning devastating day by day. Palakkad has risen by 3.3 degrees Celsius to touch 40 again. The temperature in Punalur reached 38 degrees Celsius. Only Kannur is slightly below the long-term average. Meteorologists warned that the heat will continue to be intense for the next week.

The sun is currently above Kerala. The ambient temperature is slightly higher than in previous years. Isolated summer rains are expected. The heat at night is also affecting people's sleep. In the wake of the rising heat, the Health Department issued a cautionary advisory. Many people exposed to sunlight have experienced rashes all over their bodies.

Electricity demand reached a record again. 5933 MW was consumed on Monday night, surpassing the record consumption of 5836 MW on the night of March 26. A total of 112.16 million units of electricity were consumed in Kerala on Monday. The record is 115.9845 million units on May 3, 2024. Exposure to extreme heat can cause many serious health problems, including sunstroke, heatstroke, and dehydration.