Patna: Nearly 12 people died due to intense heatwave in the last 24 hours in Bihar. The Meteorological Department on Saturday issued red alert in six districts of south-west Bihar, orange alert in 12 southern districts and yellow alert in nine other areas till Sunday.
The highest maximum temperature of 44.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Sheikhpura while Patna experienced 43.6 degrees Celsius in the last 44 hours. Districts where red alert has been issued are namely Aurangabad, Rohtas, Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur and Arwal. Orange alert has been issued in Patna, Begusarai, Khagaria, Nalanda, Banka, Sheikhpura, Jamui and Lakhisarai and yellow alert in East Champaran, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Jehanabad and East Champaran.
Of the 12 deaths, six people died in Bhojpur district alone while two died in Rohtas and one each in Nalanda, Jamui, Gaya and Patna.
The weather officials said that the maximum temperature is unlikely to dip in the next 48 hours and so has appealed people to avoid remaining under the sun for long hours. Also, in view of severe heatwave predictions in southern parts of the state, Patna district magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh has directed all schools and anganwadi centres to remain closed till June 24. Schools were supposed to reopen after the summer vacation on June 20, but with heatwave alert being issued in these areas, the district administration decided to extend the vacation till June 24.
