A roadside vendor seeks shade under umbrella from heat wave in Bengaluru, India, May 2, 2024. (Xinhua Stringer)
NEW DELHI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The local government of southern Indian state of Kerala Thursday ordered the closure of educational institutions until May 6 amid sweltering heat, officials said.
Officials have directed people to minimize exposure to the direct sun and urged authorities to monitor situations to avoid fires.
India Meteorological Department has forecast that heatwave will continue to prevail over Alappuzha, Palakkad, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts until Friday. A yellow alert has been issued in these four districts.
A man walks his bicycle across the dry bed of a lake at Boklung village near Kathiatoli town in Nagaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam, May 3, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)
The maximum temperature in Palakkad district is likely to rise to 40 degrees Celsius, and in Kollam, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts, it is likely to rise to 39 degrees Celsius.
According to local media reports, two people died earlier this week in Kerala due to the ongoing heat wave.■